Guide dog aids soldier blinded in Afghanistan

BLOOMFIELD, Conn. -- A war veteran from Connecticut who lost his sight while serving in Afghanistan is getting a new outlook on life thanks to a guide dog.

Air Force Senior Airman Michael Malarsie, 22, has been "test driving" guide dogs with the help of a trainer from the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation in Bloomfield.

For Malarsie, it's a time to learn new skills.

“All I know of what to do with one of these dogs is to say forward, left right, but it's been great,” Malarsie said.

Malarsie was on a routine foot patrol in Afghanistan's Kandahar Provence in January, when he was injured.

Fidelco’s CEO and Executive Director Eliot Russman says it's an honor to help American heroes like Malarsie.

“In Michael's case he was fortunate in one case he survived the IED that killed four of his friends, but he left his eyesight in Afghanistan and we're honored to provide him with a new set of eyes a Fidelco guide dog,” Russman said.

Since Tuesday, Malarsie has been working with dogs of different sizes and speeds.

In the coming weeks he will be fitted with the one that best meets his needs.

Although his life will never be the same as it was before the injury, a guide dog will provide him with a much higher quality of life.

“I feel like I can walk like I use to when I'm walking with my cane it's really slow and I have a lot of time, walking with these dogs I am my normal pace again, it's almost like I'm running,” said Malarsie.

It takes two years and a cost of $45,000 to train the German shepherds.

The money for that dog came courtesy of a donation from the Newman's Own Foundation.

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