A Boy and His Dog: Finding Friendship in Shared Challenges

Carter Blanchard was in kindergarten when light patches began to appear around his eyes. His parents took him to a doctor, who referred them to a dermatologist. The dermatologist had a diagnosis but not much good news. Carter, he said, has a condition called vitiligo. It's not dangerous at all – but it isn't easy either. Who wants to go through life like a zebra, part light part dark? But that's exactly what the condition does.

In their efforts to support Carter, his parents discovered something surprising: dogs can also have vitiligo. Soon, through the internet, they connected with a dog named Rowdy, who has vitiligo and white rings around his eyes, though most of his fur remains black.

For a year, Carter and Rowdy only knew each other through Skype, but eventually, Rowdy's owners and Carter's parents managed to bring them together. "It's the greatest gift we could give him," says Stephanie, Carter's mom. "No one else could make him feel better about himself like Rowdy. Only Rowdy, only a dog, could help him this way."

Carter and Rowdy played together and were photographed side by side countless times. Carter thinks Rowdy is simply perfect – although he believes a few more white spots would enhance his appearance. "He needs a few on his back," Carter suggested, adding that the most fun he had was petting Rowdy.

"I get chills when I remember the moment Carter walked in and saw Rowdy," says Niki Umbenger, the dog's owner. "I constantly get excited when I think about it. It's just amazing."