“Belle” Blind sled dog races again

With the 99th ever American Dog Derby in Ashton, many dogs come into town with the goal to take home the big prize.

For one dog, her goal is just finishing the race alongside her five other dog siblings. Her name is Belle. Belle lost her sight a little more than a year ago from glaucoma, she is completely blind. However, that doesn’t stop the 7 year-old Seppala Siberian husky from running with the big dogs.

“Belle used to be the alpha and now she gets a little bit beat up on,” said Gail Birdsong, Belle’s “mother”.

Once the lead, Belle now runs along in the back-but that’s not to say her love of racing is any less than it once was.

The American Dog Derby marks Belle’s first ever race since losing her sight.

“She actually runs little better now,” said Birdsong.

Belle’s not a one-trick kind of dog either, it’s possible you wouldn’t even know she’s blind without taking a good look at her.