Lt. Richard Hunter of San Francisco, who was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa while serving in the United States Marine Corps, is the first athlete to partner with a professionally trained running guide dog. 

Lt. Hunter’s partner Klinger, a two-year-old German Shepherd, is the first dog certified under Guiding Eyes for the Blind’s Running Guides pilot program, which was established to support the underserved community of runners who are visually impaired, the Guiding Eyes website states. 

Klinger and Lt. Hunter are currently training for the California International Marathon. 

For more information, visit www.guidingeyes.org.