Folsom El Dorado Hills, July 2018

Top Dogs by Alyssa Mielke
Every dog has its day, but the following pups and their
people are doing big things day in, day out.
Richard Hunter and Klinger photos by Menka Belgal.
Delilah Jane
“Delilah Jane is almost 10 years
old and lives in Folsom. She has
white, silky long hair that has to
be brushed all the time, which is a
good thing since being brushed is
her favorite pasttime (along with
eating and watching birds from
windows).”—Charlene Agles
Eevee
“Eevee loves hot dogs and will
growl-talk when she’s happy and/
or excited. A few months ago,
she suffered a serious accident,
and we were told she wouldn’t
have much mobility on her front
leg. Luckily, she’s walking and
running with no problem.”—
Imelda Hernandez
Hadley
“Hadley is a rescue Keeshond
whose favorite pastime is
waiting for the lizards to come
out from under the hot tub and
chasing them back in.”—Linda
Rodenspiel
didn’t exist. Enter Guiding Eyes
for the Blind. With assistance
from the nonprofit’s CEO,
Thomas Panek, Hunter helped
create a special training
program for running guide
dogs. Hunter says Klinger’s
success has “paved the way
for other blind runners to
be partnered with running
guide dogs across the U.S.”
and is what makes him
proudest of his dog.
Klinger, with his
undying stamina,
offers Hunter a new
sense of freedom
within his Folsom
neighborhood. The
German shepherd
Richard Hunter and Klinger
Five-year-old Klinger is the first-ever
certified dual purpose running guide
dog in the U.S. Add to that the bond he
has with his owner, Richard Hunter, and
the dog is one of a kind.
Hunter, an avid runner and former
commissioned Marine officer, lost
much of his sight due to retinitis
pigmentosa, but his blindness hasn’t
stopped him from achieving a long list
of accomplishments—some of which
include running the Boston Marathon
multiple times, being the second blind
American runner to complete a 100-
mile endurance run, and receiving the
Sacramento Running Association’s 2017
Community Runner of the Year Award.
After he was struck by a car while
riding his tandem bicycle and seriously
injured, Hunter’s middle daughter
encouraged him to get a guide dog.
Unfortunately, guide dogs who could go
on runs
Q&A
Favorite food: Blue
Buffalo Grain-Free
Chicken; Charlee Bear
Dog Treats
Favorite activity:
Chasing after tennis
balls
Guilty pleasure:
Anything with the
scent of peanut butter
Hidden talent:
Catching a tennis ball
over his shoulder while
running
Favorite local
landmark: The park
or zoo
Favorite toy: Tennis
balls
is his most frequent running guide and is always
rewarded by “a game of fetch with a tennis ball
after every single run.” In addition, Klinger has a
friendly and gentle disposition and is the poster pup
for guide dogs everywhere. At press time, Klinger was
a semifinalist for the American Humane Hero Dog
Awards, an annual campaign that recognizes heroes on
both ends of the leash.
JULY 2018 // stylefedh.com 51