A lot of us have been lucky enough to bond with a pet dog. And even if the mutual affection between human and animal can be profound, it probably can’t be defined as a necessity.

But for author Stephen Kuusisto — who is legally blind — the connection between he and his first guide dog Corky made a huge difference in his life and opened up many aspects of the world for him.

Kuusisto writes about the experience of having that new friend and navigating companion in his book, "Have Dog Will Travel: A Poet’s Journey."