Orient, the dog

 

Not much is written about Orient after his retirement.  This is about all I could find:

Compiled From Wire Services

The German shepherd that accompanied the first blind man to walk the entire 2,143-mile length of the Appalachian Trail is retiring.

Orient, the guide dog who sniffed and spied the trail for owner Bill Irwin, will hang up his harness Saturday. The 8-year-old dog suffers from arthritis in his hip. “He’ll just lie around, eat and sleep,” Irwin said.

The dog was featured in two books: “Blind Courage,” Irwin’s 1992 account of the journey along the mountain range from Georgia to Maine; and “Orient: Hero Dog Guide of the Appalachian Trail,” a children’s book published this year.

Then I found this:

Orient isn't the spritely German shepherd he was during his mountain-climbing days. He's now showing touches of gray, battling arthritis in his hip and struggling to keep up with Irwin's busy schedule.

Disease claimed Irwin's eyesight when he was 27. After four failed marriages and bouts with the bottle, he found God in his late 40s.

He's been a popular inspirational speaker, appearing on shows such as evangelist Robert Schuller's ``The Hour of Power.'

Orient's not far behind on the celebrity scale. Probably not since Lassie has a dog been less camera shy. So many people requested the dog's ``autograph' that Irwin had a rubber stamp made of Orient's paw print.

Since their test of endurance, man and dog have often revisited the Appalachian Trail. Their last long hike together was in the summer, on a 300-mile stretch in Vermont.

Orient will accompany his master in the future as well, this time as a pet, leaving the heavier duty of leading Irwin to his canine successor.

Orient's now a senior citizen by dog standards: 8 1/2 years old.

WE are on the move today.  I will be back after we get set up at the next park.

Nite Ships Log