Seeing-eye dogs much more than just a guide for the blind

Ioanna-Maria Gertsou is a psychologist at Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, co-founder of the Lara Guide Dog School and an activist for people with visual impairments. She has survived some major ordeals during her life, but the one that she experienced earlier this month was among the worst.

That was the moment she saw her dog May - Gertsou's eyes in the street and her constant companion - lying on the ground and struggling for breath. The female labrador was rushed to a clinic, where vets found that she was suffering from extensive internal hemorrhaging.

A couple of weeks ago, however, thanks to the tireless efforts of the doctors and the support of Gertsou's online community of friends and acquaintances who scraped together the cash needed for the 11-year-old dog's treatment, May was given a clean bill of health and returned to her person.

Together since...