By Bobby Ellis
bobby.ellis@education.ky.gov

Pam Cox and her guide dog Horace were major attractions at the 2016 Eye Can Derby in Warren County.

The Kentucky School for the Blind teacher and her furry companion spent the day talking to local children about what it was like to work together as a team with the help of a book – made by Cox – that includes Braille and other sensory objects.

“I used to use a cane,” said Cox, who lost her vision as a child. “But you can only walk so fast with one of those. With Horace, I can run with him.”

Students also got to feel for themselves what it was like to have a service dog thanks to a Leader Dog trainer who provided information to children and parents, along with letting the children walk with the service dog Daisy.

 

Alex May and D.J. Hoosier, of Simpson Elementary, pet Horace, the guide dog of Pam Cox during the Eye Can Derby in Alvaton in Warren County. Photo by Bobby Ellis, April 29, 2016

Alex May and D.J. Hoosier of Simpson Elementary School (Simpson County) pet Horace, the guide dog of Pam Cox, during the Eye Can Derby in Alvaton in Warren County.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, April 29, 2016

 

Mariah Rice, of Simpson Elementary, pets Horace the guide dog at the Eye Can Derby in Alvaton. Photo by Bobby Ellis, April 29, 2016

Mariah Rice of Simpson Elementary (Simpson County) pets Horace the guide dog at the Eye Can Derby in Alvaton.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, April 29, 2016

 

Haleigh Kemble, an 8th grader at Warren East Middle School, walks with John Dettloff and Daisy, the leader dog, during a leader dog demonstration at the Eye Can Derby. Photo by Bobby Ellis, April 29, 2016

Haleigh Kemble, an 8th-grader at Warren East Middle School (Warren County), walks with Leader Dog Trainer John Dettloff and Daisy of the Leader Dog training program during a demonstration at the Eye Can Derby.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, April 29, 2016

 

Jackson Blackford, a 3rd grader at Bridgewood Elementary, gets licked by Daisy the leader dog. Photo by Bobby Ellis, April 29, 2016

Jackson Blackford, a 3rd-grader at Briarwood Elementary School (Warren County), gets licked by Daisy of the Leader Dogs for the Blind program.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, April 29, 2016

 

Brandon Marini, a 4th grader at Rineyville Elementary, mixes ingredients at the Eye Can Derby. Photo by Bobby Ellis, April 29, 2016

Brandon Marini, a 4th-grader at Rineyville Elementary School (Hardin County), mixes ingredients at the Eye Can Derby to experiment with a talking microwave oven.
Photo by Bobby Ellis, April 29, 2016