Rowdy the dog didn't always look like this. Once upon a time Rowdy was just like any other black lab - solid black. But at age ten, something happened. White spots began appearing around his eyes, and it was all due to a condition known as Vitiligo.

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Vitiligo isn't exclusive to dogs. Many people have a condition that affects skin pigment and causes the sufferer to see white unpigmented spots on their skin. This has made Rowdy look extra unique, and people like to compare him to the superheroes Deadpool or Spiderman.

The superhero comparisons aren't actually far off. Rowdy uses his condition to help teach children with vitiligo that looking different is okay. His Instagram account regularly posts children suffering from the same condition and shows that what makes us different also makes us awesome.

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