Ford Employee's Service Dog Being "Pawprinted" for Identification, October 1942

Blackie was a leader or service dog that helped blind employee Sylvester Rypkowski travel to and from his job at the Ford Rouge factory during World War II. The dog, like his human coworkers, was finger (or "paw") printed and received a photo identification badge -- standard for war workers. Local and regional newspapers ran articles about Blackie and his role in wartime production.