Creek's Best Friend

A new face was added to the Magnolia Creek staff a few months ago. He’s about 5 years old, 24 inches tall, black and exceptionally hairy.

Meet Joey!

Joey is 5 year old black Labrador retriever. He was born and raised by guide dog trainers and eventually became a certified guide dog for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind. He faithfully served as a guide dog for a congenitally blind individual for 3 years, until he retired from his chosen profession due to developing mild corneal dystrophy in both eyes. But don’t tell him that, he still fetches like a champ.

The resulting vision loss was not enough to impair his own visual functioning, but just enough of a distraction that he sought a career change.

Four Legs of Joy

He was re-born this past March, as Joey Fogarty Porter and now serves as a "best friend" to all who have the pleasure of knowing him. He has been described as "four legs of joy," and excels at providing a friendly lick, a calming best friend to pet, etc. He often serves as a grounding and calming influence, and his welcoming and loving personality has made him a favorite with Magnolia Creek clients who are always willing to throw his favorite green rubber toy.

Magnolia Creek staff have also been known to take a break from work to spend a few minutes with Joey.

Don’t let him win Angela! Dig deep! Be the bone!

Likes: dog bones, baby carrots, boating, being petted, scratched, or brushed, sniffing things.

He also enjoys walking, playing fetch, and playing tug-of-war indoors or outdoors on the rare occasions when the weather is below 75 degrees. 

Dislikes: running out of dog bones, short to long walks when the weather is above 75 degrees and taking long luxurious naps in his favorite spot at the Creek: his kennel.

His former owner and work partner misses him dearly of course, but states that he feels much better knowing Joey has found new work to do: “It looks like he has found his true calling!”