Labrador Retriever Eddie Wins Hero Dog Award for Changing Lives

For a 3-year-old Labrador Retriever named Eddie, being a hero doesn’t mean performing one extraordinary rescue. Sometimes, it means helping someone find the confidence to walk outside, explore new places, and enjoy everyday adventures again. That is exactly what Eddie has done for his dad, Luis Rodriguez, a Miami man living with progressive vision loss. Now, their remarkable partnership has earned Eddie one of the highest honors a dog can receive. On November 4, Eddie was announced as the winner of the 16th annual American Humane Hero Dog Awards during a special appearance on TODAY. The 70-pound guide dog earned the national honor after helping Rodriguez regain something he once feared he was losing: the freedom to navigate the world with greater independence. Credit: YouTube Eddie Helps His Dad Find Confidence Again Rodriguez was born with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare inherited eye disease that gradually damages the retina and causes progressive vision loss. Over the past five years, his eyesight has deteriorated significantly, and he is now considered legally blind. As his vision changed, ordinary activities became increasingly difficult. Rodriguez, who lives with his wife and th...