Buddy

In this poignant and carefully composed portrait of six guide dogs and their owners, Heddy Honigmann explores the close bond between animal and human. One of the owners is a now 86-year-old blind woman who reflects back upon all the dogs that have been at her side since she was 21. There are pictures of most of her dogs on the wall, though she’ll never see them herself. An autistic boy explains how his loyal friend Utah can tell when he’s upset. The wife of a war veteran suffering from PTSD explains that the guide dog Mister is probably the reason they’re still together.

Honigmann questions the owners in her characteristic way—respectfully and with genuine concern rooted in a deep trust—about what the animals mean to them. Is it love, loyalty or simply a working relationship? “I think the word ‘love’ is appropriate,” answers one visually impaired man. “But it’s still a dog. And I’m still a human.”