This Woman Designed a Unique Camper Van That Keeps Her Blind Dog Safe and Comfortable

Daphne was four years old when Dawn adopted her. Given that Daphne was quite an inspiration to people, Dawn decided to write a children's book titled "Daphne the Blind Dog" and embarked on a book tour across the country in the van, bringing Daphne with her.

Every part of the van was specially modified to accommodate the dog. Unfortunately, Daphne tragically passed away just one month after starting the book tour, so Dawn adopted her second bling dog, Maxwell, and he became the ambassador for Daphne's books.

What we have here is a Ford Transit van – if you glance at it from the outside, there aren't many details suggesting it's a camper. There are two small windows on each of the van's sides to the rear and solar panels on the roof. But besides these, you won't necessarily figure out somebody uses it as a mobile home, which can be helpful if you want to be stealthier.

Once you step inside, you'll be in the kitchen. It features a decently sized fridge/freezer, a large sink, which Dawn uses to bathe the dog, and some small baskets for storage. Just like in many other rigs, to fully maximize the space, the countertop can be extended using a pop-up system.

The kitchen is also equipped with various cabinets and drawers, and Daphne even recycles what she uses via two different trash cans. The sink is connected to a 50-liter (13-gallon) water tank and a 15-liter (4-gallon) hot water tank. To turn on the water pump and water heater, she set up some controls above, between the baskets.

Dawn devised a small crate underneath the fridge as a safe space for Maxwell to lie. Opposite it, there's a cabinet that integrates the toilet.

Dawn needed to find a way for Maxwell to get on his own in bed. And she came up with a creative solution that also maximizes the van's storage capacity. She created stairs from drawers and cabinets and added small rails so the dog doesn't fall off them. Inside, she sores all sorts of stuff, from kitchen utensils to her laptops or shoes, as well as a portable electric cooktop.

Usually, the area where she added the stairs would have been occupied by a counter. Daphne devised another simple yet effective solution: install a drop-down countertop. Up above, there's a cabinet for some extra storage.

Dawn works full-time on the go, so she wanted to create an office space. Both the passenger and driver seats swivel, so there was no need to add an extra seat. She fitted a swivel table and added some plugs for the laptops, as well as a wall-mounted file holder. Dawn explains that it's critical to her job that she keeps track of time. Even though nowadays we mostly use our phones or watches to check the time, she still felt like hanging a clock on the wall. She particularly likes having it visible when entering the office.

Another essential component is the Wi-Fi modem, which enables her unlimited Internet access in Canada and the United States. And lastly, she added some curtains that separate the driver's cabin from the rest of the interior, creating some privacy and serving as a background when Dawn has video calls.

Let's move on to the last part of the interior, the bedroom. It comprises a double bed, but Dawn cut off 2 inches (5 centimeters) from the mattress to make room for some storage bins on the side. What's more, there are two large overhead cabinets where Dawn stores clothes. Other notable details include a small fan for the summertime, some lamps, one window on each side of the bed, and a skylight up above. Cleverly enough, she used a marine hatch for the skylight so she could open it up and reach the roof to clean the 300 W solar panel – that meant there was no need to install an exterior ladder.

I love the convenient solutions Dawn came up with to make sure Maxwell was safe and comfortable with her in bed. First of all, she fitted some bars across the rear of the van to protect Maxwell from falling over the edge of the bed. Dawn also uses a barrier on the opposite side of the bed. This way, the only opening that remains leads to the stairs. When Dawn and Maxwell go to sleep, she covers that spot with a piece of board.

The area under the bed is the garage, which is 65 inches (142 centimeters) long and is accessible from both the interior and exterior. Given that Dawn tours her book, she carries all sorts of equipment that allows her to set up her stand anywhere she goes. Even though the garage is quite packed, everything is neatly organized and slotted. For instance, you'll notice some weights that hold the canopy, a 6-foot (183 centimeters) table, a wagon for hauling things around, and more. There's even a foldable bicycle inside.

All in all, Dawn managed to build a comfortable rig for both her and her blind dog Maxwell – props to her for coming up with these dog-friendly solutions while also integrating a ton of storage spaces.