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Pinoy the Drill Sargent
My little Shih Tzu has been totally blind for about four months now. He only had one eye when I got him from a local shelter. We have managed to work out a way of living together that makes his blindness as painless to him as possible.
Actually, it was the little dog, named Pinoy, who seems to have worked out the solutions all by himself. His little routine now is something that I have completely understood and I cooperate with him at every turn.
Pinoy sleeps in my bed. When he wakes up, like most of us, he wants to pee and poop. He barks to wake me up. It's a short little bark that reminds me a little of my Marine Corps drill intructor's bark in boot camp.
I get up and carry him outside and put him down. I close the door and wait for him to finish his "business." When I hear that little short bark again, I know he wants back inside so I open the door and he comes in. He then waits for me to bring him his breakfast, usually canned dog food or a hot dog weenie.
After he's had his breakfast, he wants to sit in the living room with the other two dogs, a Golden Retriever and a Chiweenie. After a while of socializing with those two, he wants to go back to bed so I hear that little short bark again. I take him for his nap.
I hear his bark again in about three hours that lets me know he wants down from the bed. Again, I take him to pee and poop and I get him his lunch afterwards. In good weather, I take the little mite for a walk. He has a habit of walking in circles.
Sometimes Pinoy gets lost in the house and he barks for me to come find him. He always liked to sit on the couch when he could see and watch television. He still likes to sit on the couch and pretend to watch TV. When he gets sleepy, he barks for me to take him back to bed.
This is the way our days go. Since I'm retired, I'm able to take care of a blind dog. Many owners who work might have to find some other means of caring for a special needs dog, but, it can be done.
One thing I would never consider is to have the little dog put to sleep. I will care for him as long as he lives. Pinoy is a hero to me having demostrated great courage in what he thought was the defense of my life even if it cost him his own life. Such courage must be rewarded.
Story by: PATE M.
- Resource: http://blogs.fanbox.com/Myphotobyoldsoldier3
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JOURNEY TO ADOPTING A BLIND DOG
It had been almost four months since we lost Sparky, our first Cocker Spaniel, and the love of my life. It was time to get Sarah, our then 8 year old cocker, a playmate. I knew I would look to rescue. A friend of mine, who is involved in Cavalier rescue, gave me the Cocker Pals website and I sent an e-mail to Joan, the director, letting her know I was looking for a female cocker, not a puppy. I told her I had recently lost Sparky and had Sarah who needed a playmate. She contacted me and told me she had the perfect little girl for me. She was 5 years old and a real love sponge. Her name is Simone and she is a special needs dog. Right away I asked what her special needs were and Joan told me she was blind. My heart sank. How would a blind dog do in my house? I have stairs in my house that are not carpeted. How would she manage? Would Sarah accept her? How would my family deal with a blind dog? Would I be able to take care of her and handle her special needs? I was very, very hesitant, and told Joan that. She told me that Simone was no different than any other dog and did extremely well without her sight. Her other senses took over for her lack of sight. I saw her picture on Petfinder and what a cutie she was. By this time, she had had to have one eye removed due to severe glaucoma. The pressures could not be kept under control with medication any longer. The other eye was under control, but Joan was not sure for how long. I told Joan I really needed some time to think about this and if someone else was interested in Simone, not to hold her for me. I also needed to talk with my family and do some research. My head was in a spin. I called my veterinarian, my groomer, and my pet sitter to seek advice and ask what they really thought about me taking this little girl. They were very positive and all told me the same thing. Eyesight is not as important to a dog as their other senses. They use smell and hearing to compensate. I also joined the Yahoo group, Blinddogs@yahoogroups.com to seek their comments and advice. I thought it would be best to talk to those who have the most experience with a blind dog as part of their family. They also were very supportive and told me to do it; that I would not be sorry.
This was a huge decision for me, and one I did not take lightly. It took me a month, and many phone calls back and forth to Joan, to finally decide to go ahead and meet, and possibly adopt, Simone. By this time, it was decided to remove Simone's other eye.
My biggest worry was how Sarah would react to Simone. At that time Sarah could be a bit territorial. So I asked Joan to meet me at a park, which would be neutral territory for Sarah. The morning we were to meet, I woke up and was really nervous about what was about to happen. What had I done (or was about to do)? What was I thinking? Am I making a mistake? These were the thoughts that raced through my mind. I had the support of my family, although my boys were a bit hesitant. None of us could picture a dog without eyes.
My daughter, Cheryl, Sarah, and I went to meet Simone and Joan. Everything went well. Sarah sniffed her and all was well. Simone and Cheryl bonded right away and it seemed the decision was made. To this day they have a special bond. We drove home with Sarah, Simone, and Cheryl in the back seat and Joan was following us. We came across the yard and into the house together and all was well. Simone had found her furever home.
Simone is a very happy, well adjusted, and loving little girl. She has brought so much joy to our lives. Within a couple of days she had mapped out our house in her mind and hardly ever bumps into things only when she gets excited or if something is not in its usual spot. Within a week she was going up and down our steps, which are not straight, but take a turn. I still am amazed at how quickly she flies up and down these steps. Most of the time I forget Simone is blind. She is just like any other dog, she just needs a loving home, and that she has with us. Do I wish she could see me? Sure I do, but I know she sees me with her heart.
I have since turned my positive experience around to help others. I have told others, mostly on the Blind Dog site, Simone's story. My advice when contemplating the adoption of a blind dog is not to let the blindness be an obstacle. Sure there can be issues, but I think the issues are more our issues than those of the dog. Bringing Simone into our home was one of the best decisions I've ever made. We love her so much and she gives that love back tenfold.
Less than 5 months later we decided to open our home to another little blind girl, Annie. Annie came to Cocker Pals from a PA shelter where they said she was the worst case of abuse they had ever seen. And yet this little girl had so much love to give. Having had Simone for a few months and seeing how well she was doing with us, I didn't hesitate to bring Annie into our home. She is a joy as well and her blindness does not get in her way. Simone has now been a part of our family for a year and a half, and Annie just over a year.
I will never forget my hesitation at adopting Simone (and I know Joan certainly won't). After all my research and questions, I looked beyond her blindness, and I am sure glad I did!
Update to this story: Simone has now been with us for 3 years. Her favorite hobby is playing basketball. The minute she hears the bounce of the basketball on our driveway she heads right to it and could play for hours.
We have since added two more cockers to our family. Emma came from a neglect situation in PA, but originated in a puppy mill that was just recently shut down. I do believe she had puppies there. She is blind in one eye from glaucoma and has a developing cataract in the other. She recently battled breast cancer and is doing well.
Savannah came to us from a shelter in South Carolina and has been with us for just over a year. I am positive she is also from a puppy mill. She had just had a litter of puppies before being dumped at the shelter, blind and petrified of everyone. She was no longer useful for the miller and so she was dumped. She came to us a very frightened girl and cowered and shook if anyone came near her. She couldn't get away fast enough. With a lot of love and gentle attention, she has come out of her shell and is doing well. She is still very timid, but what an improvement.
These blind babies have so much love to give. I am hoping that by telling the story of my girls, others will see clear to bring a blind dog into their home.
Story By: Sheila Van Tine
CockerPals Rescue
Blind Dog Rescue Alliance Volunteer
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Chester - The Dog That Won Every Award Except an Emmy (Not Yet!)
I have rescued English Springer Spaniels for over thirty years. Three years ago I had a call from my vet, would I like a blind Springer Spaniel, the owners had him from a breeder took him to a vet after a month to have his tail docked and his jabs. He did all this and then said to the owner, he’s blind didn’t you realize?
They then took him back to the breeder who got out his shotgun to shoot the puppy, so they took him away and left him with an animal shelter, which is when I had the call.
When I picked him up, (I decided to call him Chester) he was in a dreadful state, but after four months of treatment he was 100% fit.
He is the most loved/loving dog ever, he has won his Kennel Club Bronze and Silver awards and the judges didn’t even know he was blind, the only reason he hasn’t got his Gold is because I had an accident and couldn’t take him for his exam!
I took him to a charity for dogs fun day and he beat five sighted dogs ‘round an obstacle course!
He lives with a sighted Springer Spaniel Bella who get on so well.
He has changed my life forever, and when eventually God takes him my world will come to an end!
Story By: Barry Reed
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Boomer – Blind Child Extraordinaire
During the evening of April 28, 1998, the night before my 40th Birthday, my best friend of 14 years; a large, gentle, Golden Retriever named Ben, drew his final breath.
I wrapped him in his favorite quilt and he spent his last night on the floor beside my bed.
I called my office and left a message that I would not be in the next morning and told them why.
As I was preparing to bury Ben, one of my friends showed up on my doorstep with one of the gangliest and awkward Yellow Labrador puppies I had ever seen.
He knew how much Ben had meant to me and hoped this could help ease the pain for myself and my Golden Retriever, Duke.
Over the next several days, this new addition to my family proved to be the clumsiest puppy possible so he was lovingly given the name Boomer due to all of the obstacles he was continually tripping over.
Boomer and Duke played hard and lived life to the fullest on the 15 acres of forest property we live on.
As the months passed, Boomer grew into a very handsome but still somewhat clumsy dog, leaving occasional nose prints on the trees in the yard but still giving Duke a run for his money at every game they played.
When Boomer was almost a year old I took him into the Vet for a checkup and Vaccinations.
I was completely surprised when the Vet asked me how well Boomer was getting around considering his handicap.
I was speechless when the Vet explained Boomer had been born with Retinal Dysplasia and was almost totally blind.
I was told that Boomer’s vision was the equivalent to our eyes with an inch or more of Vaseline smeared over them.
Boomer’s enthusiasm for life and his never-ending desire to play fetch had compensated to the point that although he appeared clumsy, neither I nor any of my friends ever considered that he was blind.
I was also told that Boomer had a heart condition that would most likely shorten his life significantly and that both of these conditions were unfortunately quite common to the puppy mill industry.
Boomer is now 13, and although he has endured many complications with his eyes including detached retinas which resulted in the loss of one eye and the removal of the retina in the other, he is the happiest dog I know and still plays as hard and fast as he ever did. In fact, when we play fetch during the daytime he still beats Duke to the stick 1 out of 3 times, and at night he gets it every time.
I truly believe there are many lessons to be learned from Boomer, but the two most obvious are how sad it is that inbreeding at puppy mills results in the continual propagation of so many different types of serious handicaps, and the second being that although life is not always fair, and obstacles sometimes obstruct our paths, there is still an unlimited amount of happiness and satisfaction that can be achieved if we choose not to let adversity control our lives.
Boomer is a great friend and one of the most inspirational dogs I have ever known.
I would not trade my years with Boomer for anything, and I hope and pray that we can enjoy many more.
Please help end the senseless problems and inhumanities caused by puppy mills, and last but certainly not least, if you ever have an opportunity to adopt a handicapped pet, please consider that you are not only providing a home for an animal that might otherwise be euthanized, but that this furry little critter may very well become a blessing to you and your family far beyond your wildest expectations.
Boomer has, and continues to be an amazing friend.
Best of luck on your search for a similar companion.
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My foster, Helen
Helen is a blind dog we rescued that was part of a major animal cruelty case.
Helen was terrified at first and constantly bumping into things and wouldn't let me help. Once she knew she was safe, I took Helen and
walked slowly around the yard with her so she can memorize it. I took
her paw every time she came near an obstacle (tree, picnic table,
etc) and let her feel that something was there. We did the same thing
inside as well. Well Helen has memorized the entire yard and the entire
house. She NEVER bumps into things unless we move things around.
Sometimes it scares us how she runs, jumps and plays outside with the
other dogs as she has came really close to the trees and the tables but
she hasn't bumped into any. The vet said her eyes can be fixed for
5,000 dollars but Helen has been abused, shot with a bb gun, etc..so to
say she's been through enough and is a very happy dog. Why change
something with the dog is so happy? Being blind never stops Helen, I don't even think she considers herself blind because her other senses
are so strong :-)
Want to adopt Helen?
Please Contact:
Email: lauraneesmith@yahoo.com
Phone: 336-404-9720
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Story By: Laura (Helen's Foster mom)
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Jack the Blind Beagle
In October of last year, a friend on Facebook posted a picture of a beagle that needed rescue. The Decatur County Animal Shelter in Indiana came across him at Cottonwood Lake. After time, no one seemed interested in adopting Jack, so Beagle Buddies Rescue Group stepped up. He wasn’t an ordinary dog, he had special needs. He had only 1 eye, (the other was surgically removed sometime in the past). He was completely blind in his remaining eye. He had a broken hip and needed surgery. He could not bear weight on his leg, so he held it up while walking on 3 legs. Despite all of this, he was a HAPPY dog! I saw a video of him on Facebook, and his tail was constantly wagging.
We already had a 10 year old beagle, and had been thinking for a long while that we wanted another. I thought Jack would be perfect because he wasn’t a high energy puppy. He would fit right in with a senior dog. My 4 year old daughter and I met him at his foster parents’ home and fell in love. Soon enough, Jack was on his way to his furever home. After giving him plenty of love and affection, he began to trust our voices to guide him. Within a day or two, he responded to his name and learned his way around our house. At first he would prance around timidly, but now he can navigate every turn and corner without even brushing up against anything! We made a faux staircase out of boxes so Jack could reach our high bed. I patted the steps while I called his name, and praised him while he jumped up onto the bed. It literally only took Jack one try to learn to use the steps (while only using 3 legs!)
We immediately got his needed hip surgery. Within weeks he was walking on all fours, and soo happy to do so! It brought our family great joy to see him running around the backyard and through the snow! This Spring he became ill so we scheduled to have his other eye removed (pressure made it painful for him), and during the pre-op work they discovered his liver enzymes were 10x higher than normal. After many tests and a lengthy hospital stay, his diagnosis was Hepatitis. We also discovered he has Irritable Bowel Syndrome. He received wonderful care from his veterinarian, Dr. Amy Smith, and soon he was feeling well enough to proceed with the eye removal surgery.
Here is a pic of my sweet Jack I took today. He is 1 week post-op from his eye surgery.
Already blind, he is recovering quite well. It is hard to believe that someone loved this dog at one time and quit doing so. He is AMAZING!!!! So sweet and content just to be laying by your side.
We get a lot of comments that Jack is so lucky to be adopted by a wonderful family that cares for him..We feel like we are the lucky ones. Jack has had a hard life, but he doesn’t show it. When he gets knocked down, he always gets back up; with his tail wagging and an extended paw swiping at your side to pet him. If anyone is thinking about adopting, I highly recommend a rescue group. Jack has required a lot of medical care, but our expense has been minimal. A lot of his care was paid for with donations the rescue group raised. They also paid for his initial vetting including heartworm tests, neutering, shots, etc… Rescue dogs often have had rough lives, so they crave love and affection. They make great family pets!
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Cassidy Gets What Cassidy Wants
In October 2009 we adopted our first blind Pug Cassidy. Everyone always says, “Why adopt a blind dog?” We always reply. “Why not?” In our experience, a blind dog is just as sweet, loving & playful as a seeing eye dog. They can practically do everything a seeing eye dog does except play fetch or frisbee.
Cassidy is a puppy mill survivor. When she was in the puppy mill she developed PK (pigmentary keratitis) & she never received treatment for it. As a result, she’s blind.
We hit the internet & did our research. We learned everything we could about how to care for a blind dog. We learned everything but this lol ~
When Cassidy was starting to make herself at home, she loved playing with tennis balls.
One night Cassidy was running around chasing after her tennis ball & she lost it. It rolled behind the sofa. Cassidy was running from one end of the sofa to the other; scratching at it, she tried to dig under the carpets too. Since we didn’t see the ball, we just concluded that it wasn’t there & we tried to get Cassidy to stop digging up the sofa.
As some of you may know, Pugs are very stubborn lol Well, Cassidy is no different. She wouldn’t give up trying to dig up the sofa. After a couple days, we finally decided to stop being so lazy & move the sofa. Guess what we found? Yup, her beloved tennis ball was behind the sofa.
Lesson learned here is . . . don’t ever underestimate a blind dog. When Cassidy starts scratching at the furniture, we always move & give her toys back to her.
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Stevie the Amazing Blind Dog
Stevie was an amazing Cocker Spaniel, found as a stray by the animal shelter where I worked. The shelter evaluated him not having much time to live (maybe a month) due to his enlarged heart, congestive heart failure with intense coughing due to the fluids building up by his heart not working properly, being underweight, poor coat condition, ear and eye infections, matted, filthy... and totally blind in both eyes. But his darling little tail would wag up a storm whenever you said "hi" (his ears worked just fine!) and he would follow me anywhere once I put a leash on him, and would lean into everyone he met to get love and affection.
Well, needless to say, his wigglebutt optimism totally won my heart. On what was supposed to be his last day, I took him home to "foster" him, really thinking he could live out his last few weeks with me, and at least he'd be warm and loved in my kitchen. Trying to make him as comfortable as possible, I took him to my holistic/western vet. She prescribed him a plethora of herbal supplements and traditional medications, and I fed him a raw organic diet. Within a few weeks, he was bouncing around almost like a puppy! He put on weight, his coat began to shine, his ear and eye infections cleared up, and his painful coughing was almost totally gone. He'd won over my friendly dogs and cats -- I think not being able to see their grumpy posturing and his total optimism made it easier on everyone to accept him. He learned the layout of my kitchen and how to get in and out the dog door to sit on the side patio. He also loved going on walks around the neighborhood, and I helped him learn how to navigate up and down the curbs when I said "up" and "down". I'd just have to steer him to avoid any trees and we'd walk along at quite a good clip! He was an inspiration to have around.
Six months later.... I'd forgotten that before I took him home, I'd posted him as 'for adoption' on a blind dog message board. A very kind retired lady saw him there, and emailed me that she was interested in adopting him!! She had another blind dog too, and her home was a blind-dog paradise with no sharp edges, a safe walled garden, and dog beds everywhere. They drove over 2 hours one way to meet him, and ended up taking him home! With them, he wouldn't have to be left alone all day like he was with me while I was at work, and could live a really full life full of attention and love. And he did! He lived with them for another THREE years!!! At the very end, he was helped by the wonderful Camp Cocker Rescue too.
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Story By: Jennifer Warner
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Milish - The 'Sweetest' Guy on Earth
Milish, whose name means "sweet" in Irish couldn't have a better name. He is the sweetest guy on earth. He always was an adventurer who could escape at a moment's notice. Once he even broke a window in the basement and climbed out.
Now he is challenged, in his old age, with being both mostly blind and mostly deaf. It hasn't changed his personality a bit although his adventures now take place within the house or on a leash.
He's not very big as he's a cocker mix. When he hasn't been groomed for a while, he looks like a beautiful black bear. When he is groomed, he transform into a skinny cocker. His eyes and ears may not work so well these days but his nose does. If we don't latch the kitchen door, he can be in there like lightening. The problem with that? He can open the refrigerator door. I'm a bit forgetful about it sometimes so we have lost a bowl of pulled pork, a corned beef and multiple pieces of cheese. The other day I heard a clanking and looked in to see him holding an aluminum take out container that hadn't been in the refrigerator for more than ten minutes. He looked so triumphant, I really felt like a villain taking it away from him!
Other than food, he loves hiking. We try to guide him to the easier part of the path but he won't have any of that. He scrambles over rocks and his nose checks out everything. He may be fifteen years old, but he resists going back to the car when we are tired.
He is my heart. He wakes every morning in a good mood ready to enjoy the day despite his challenges. How can I not be inspired by that?
Story By: FloJean Speck
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Love Bug of a Pug
In May of 2010, we looked into expanding our Pug family. Since we already have one blind Pug . . . why not adopt another one? There were so few pugs available close to us and most of the rescues we contacted said that they would not do out of state adoptions. We scoured the internet & someone on FaceBook sent us a link to SEPRA. Luckily, SEPRA does out of state adoptions. We saw Woody on their site.
Woody was an owner surrender, but before he was turned over to the wonderful people at SEPRA, Woody was abused by four bigger dogs. As a result, he lost an eye & sustained a lot of trauma to the other eye, causing him to lose his sight in that eye too. But we didn’t see that. When we looked at Woody’s pictures, we saw a gorgeous, happy black pug.
Over Memorial Day Weekend, I flew to Florida to meet Woody & finalize his adoption. Together we drove back home all the way to Philadelphia, PA. I’m glad that Woody likes car rides lol
Woody didn’t waste any time at all making himself at home. Within the first couple hours, he found the front door & the kitchen lol.
Woody has really come out of his shell. He happily greets us at the door when we come home. He sings for his supper by making a “woo woo” sound that’s really cute.
But most of all, he loves belly rubs. We’ve never seen anything like this. Before Woody gets out of bed in the morning, he rolls over for a belly rub. As we try to put his harness on, he demands a belly rub. If you scratch his back, he rolls over for a belly rub. His full name is Woody Belly Rub Koltoff LOL
Woody is such a sweet, handsome, love bug of a Pug.
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Story By: Jeff Koltoff & Rachel Pullman
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I Am Loved and Love Every Day - Milton's Story
My name is Milton Werner; my Mom was rescued from a puppy mill by another great rescue, prior to my birth. I was with my foster parents Manuela and Ty and their two dogs until I was adopted on December 26th 2009 by my forever parents. I now live with my parents Betty & Rich and my adopted dog brother Jake. I get along with all other dogs, and cats. From the moment I wake up, until I go to bed at night I wag my tail. I love giving kisses, playing with Jake, going for walks, running around the kitchen with a toy in my mouth over and over again and just being a happy dog. I get to go to work with Dad once in a while where I give all the ladies kisses; I have a great memory so I know to run up and down the office aisles so everyone can greet me properly.
This is Mom and Dad's first experience with a dog like me who sees with his heart so it took me a little time to teach them how to walk me on a leash, which I think is normal for any dog who has not walked on a leash. Sometimes when we are out walking I may get a little nervous when I hear the sound of a car but a reassuring word from Mom or Dad, and we are on our way again. When we walk somewhere new I sometimes need a little more direction like up at a curb or a little warning when the surface is changing.
At home I can go upstairs by myself; I know basic commands such as down, sit and stay.
I love treats, and I love to snuggle.
If you heard that dog with limited sight might bark more than a dog that sees that is just a myth.
All and all I am like any other dog.
I can stay at home by myself when Mom and Dad have go to work, I don't cost anymore when we go to the veterinarians. I adapt very quickly to new surroundings, I love everyone I meet, I love riding in the car, I love the dog park, I hide when I hear the word bath, and sometimes act like I can't hear when Mom says no.
So if you are thinking about adopting a dog like me, don't think twice, and if you ever meet me do not worry about me I am loved and love every day.
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Brooklyn's World
We adopted Ms. Brooklyn in March 2010. Little did we know, how much this little girl would change our lives forever...
Brooklyn is a Red Rottweiler. As a result of having a recessive gene, she was born with detached retina's. When she was younger, her vet thought she could see bright lights and shadows but eventually that would go away. You would never know she's blind and we often forget she is.
I guess I expected having a blind dog would be more challenging but it really isn't. I love her hesitation when in an unknown environment. But it doesn't take long until she is running around playing and in charge of everyone...
She loves going to the beach and loves to go swimming, We take her on daily walks, where she tries to take the lead over our other two dogs. She definitely runs our house. She is a very confident, bold dog and VERY STRONG & SPOILED.
I think the biggest difference between Brooklyn and any other dog we've owned is her spirit. She has a very calming spirit. Not sure if this is because she's blind or just her personality.
We often hear "Aww, too bad she's blind.." or "she'd be perfect if she could see...". Nothing is further from the truth. I wouldn't trade her blindness for the world. Being blind is part of who she is. If she could see, she might lose some other part of her awesome personality. And it's just not worth it.
Thank you to BDRA for bringing Brooklyn into our lives and into our hearts. We do not know what we'd do without her.
To view more pictures of Brooklyn and her family, CLICK HERE.
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Story By: Calvin & Jeanne Rowland
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QUINCY’S STORYI am blind. I have battle scars all over me. I never knew a home or words like “Good boy.” It’s things like that, as Quincy’s foster parent, just break my heart. I look at his sweet face with bite scars around his eyes and wonder how on Earth this boy is so gentle and loving. He didn’t know stairs or how to walk on a leash. He used to shake around the first of every month; I can only imagine why. But yet again, he is so gentle and sweet.As Quincy learns what a real home is and how a good human being should treat him, his personality begins to emerge. He likes to play, he likes to nudge you for affection, he likes to snuggle, and he absolutely loves being covered up with blankets. He used to be frightened of walks, being unsure of where he was being taken to; he now paws at the door in excitement to go out. He is smart enough to know that he gets treats for going potty, so maybe I won’t notice that he didn’t actually go as he patiently waits in the kitchen for a treat. Maybe I won’t notice him trying to snag some food off of the counter. It just goes to show how normal he is. Quincy is a success story. He survived some of the most awful of circumstances. He survived being on the top of the euthanasia list at the shelter. And he survived all this and still lacks any aggression that you might expect him to have due to his life and maltreatment. Quincy is the kind of dog everyone wants. He is amazing.Want to adopt Quincy?
Please visit his page: CLICK HERE
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Story By: Rachel Czapla (Quincy's Foster mom)
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My Heart Has Four Feet
My heart has four feet, a cute pointy nose, and semi-prick ears. She wears a gorgeous white fur coat, and her name is Treasure. Indeed, that is just what she is. Treasure is my sidekick. Wherever I go, she’s usually there. Together we visit the local assisted living facility to spread smiles to all. Word has spread far and wide about my little girl. She has quite a fan club both locally and around the world. Treasure frequently gets invited to make special community appearances, and I, as her chauffer, get to go along. We spend a lot of time doing demonstrations and educating people around town. We have been interviewed by writers and the local newspaper. We’ve met so many amazing people and dogs along the way.
I get many questions wherever we go … What is she? How does she get around? How do you feed her? Does she get along with your other dogs? How do you communicate with her? What does she do all day? Is she happy? Is she a burden to you?
You see, Treasure is considered a double merle sheltie, so she doesn’t exactly resemble the shelties that most people are used to seeing. She is all white except for a few cute grey freckles on her ear and tail. Due to irresponsibly breeding two merle dogs together, Treasure was born both blind and deaf. While many people feel pity for her and can’t imagine how she’d ever live a happy life, I have tried to allow her to have as normal a life as possible.
She plays and wrestles with my puppy. She loves the large fenced yard where she is safe to explore and roll in the new spring grass. Treasure even has her own set of steps so she can get up to and down from my bed on her own. She loves blankets and pillows after living outside for three years! I think she is making up for lost time! We have many discussions about which side of the bed is mine!
Treasure shows me every day that she doesn’t want to be pitied. She graduated from obedience class and is now a therapy dog. She enjoys learning and trying new things. She knows a few tricks just for fun, and to show off at our demos. She loves to play in the agility tunnels in the yard. But her favorite activity is k9 nosework – a new sport where dogs search for hidden scents. She is just a natural and has a hard time waiting her turn while her classmates get a chance to search.
Treasure has many ways of gathering information. I communicate with her through touch cues. She has cues for things I want her to do, like sit and lie down, but she also knows that certain touches mean other things like outside, car rides, and time to eat. She knows when I press my lips into her fur and kiss her how much she is loved. She is an expert at reading air currents and vibrations to tell directions and who is passing her and where. She uses different surfaces to help her get around. Her mental map of the area includes grass, gravel and the wooden deck outside, and carpet, tile, throw rugs, and dog beds inside. And, of course, her nose is amazing! She can easily find me as I move around and is often found lying on my feet or very nearby. She also always knows when there is food around! One day she climbed into the dishwasher to get to some food left on a plate!
In her spare time, Treasure enjoys creating paintings … but that is more of a warm weather, outside kind of activity! She is also helping me to create a children’s book to share the message that it’s ok to be different. Treasure continues to amaze me and surprise me every day. I can’t imagine our lives without her … my heart with four feet.
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Champ and Helen Keller
I adopted Champ when I saw his woeful face on a BDRA Face Book post. Blind, partially deaf, 13 years old, Pitbull mix....quite the gem !
I thought I was taking on a 45lb old boy that would sleep most the day. Instead I have a 60lb dog that can walk for hours and still walk some more.
I've had him for 7 months. I adore him. He is the sweetest dog. I am always amazed at how adaptable and resiliant he is; and astounded at his energy. We figured a way to play chase recently....with strategically placed tennis balls of course; but he now initiates the game.
Just recently I was walking him when a group of kids playing on the sidewalk asked if they could pet him. I said sure, but he's blind so he jumps a bit when you first touch him. They called him towards them. I had to explain he's also a bit deaf . One little boy (about 7) looks at me and says earnestly "have you heard of Helen Keller?".
If only Champ knew :)
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Spike's Story
I have a fantastic little guy by the name of Spike who went blind
suddenly almost three years ago now. He is remarkable. Visitors that
come to the house cannot believe that he is blind he does everything
from chasing squirrels up the trees to rounding up the chickens in the
yard. He mastered the steps without a problem, I have small video clips
of him in the yard and going up and down the steps. Our yard is like an
agility course with rock walls around trees, decks, retaining walls,
etc. he is quite remarkable. He loves going for rides in the car or
truck (he prefers the truck), he does everything like the other three
in the house.
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Story By: Kathy and Spike
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Larry, Curly, & Moe
I would like to tell you about our dogs. We have three, all from our Humane Society. Of our three dogs, two are completely Blind. Styx, our Basset Hound Mix had severe Glaucoma at the age of a year and a half. The glaucoma caused so much pain, her eyes had to be removed and we decided to go with Prosthetic eyes insead of sewing her eye lids shut. She is so very capable, we forget that she's Blind! She is so AMAZING!
We got our second Blind dog last Spring. Zoe is a Shitzhu and was already blind when we got her and also has prosthetic eyes. The Humane Society paid for Zoe's surgery. Zoe is 6 and a half years old and Styx is 5 and a half as is our other dog Chevy who is our only dog with sight. I walk all three dogs and nobody knows they're Blind. They fool a lot of people because they are so very capable.
If you click on this video, you'll see just how well Styx gets along. It is a video of her playing with our sighted dog Chevy. The Opthomologist that did the surgery shows it to her students when she teaches and they can't always figure out which one is Blind. I also attached a couple of pictures of them.
I have to admit, Styx was our first Blind dog and after the surgery, I was second guessing it but once everything healed up, I realized she and Zoe are NOT handicapped in any way!
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Trevor's Story
My first blind dog was Trevor. He was a stray found wandering with a choke chain that had to be surgically removed. He had advanced cataracts, and had to have one eye removed, but he was the most amazing dog! We have a pen that is 1 3/4 acres and 500 feet long. The first time we went out with him, the second time we went out and got him, and from the third time on, he navigated that pen just as well as any sighted dog!
When Trevor went into a new house, he went all through it, keeping the wall on his right side. After that he got around just fine. He bumped into things occasionally, but he tended to move at a walk or (outside) a trot and didn't do himself any harm.
We had an elderly cat who had developed arthritis after getting trapped in a drainage pipe overnight. He did not have enough
flexibility to keep himself clean, so Trevor washed him. He would head butt Trevor when he wanted a bath, and Trevor would always comply. The other dogs were willing to wash him, but he only wanted Trevor.
Although he had had what must to considered a hard life, like most labs, he never lost his sense of fun. Colleen Little gave us Trevor, but she never stopped loving him. When he developed cancer and had to be put down, our vet cried almost as much as we did. No one ever had a better pet.
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Dulcinea's Story
Our second blind dog is Dulcinea. She is a flat-coated retriever mix and is said to be 2 1/2. We got her last October. She was born blind and has no idea that she is missing anything. She can chase cats by the sound of their paws on the grass! Her hearing and sense of smell are amazing.
Unlike our other blind dogs, Dulcie does not moderate her pace. She charges through life like a runaway locomotive. She bumps into people, dogs, cats, furniture, fences, you name it! Thank God she's only 45 pounds or we'd all be in the hospital. But she's so obviously having a ball that we don't hold it against her. Her enthusiasm for life is second only to her love for everyone she meets. Our older flat-coated retriever, Winston, thinks she is the cutest thing he ever saw. Our Australian shepherd did not want another dog and was nasty to her, but even he will play with her now. The cats were a little taken aback by this little dynamo tearing through the house and yard, but they sleep all curled up with her on our bed at night -- there's hardly any room for people in the bed!
Dulcie is afraid of noises (hates the vaccuum cleaner) and going to strange places. The second time you take her to a new place, she's fine. She is absolutely wonderful in a car. Point her at the door and say jump, and in she goes. You forget she's there until it's time to tell her to jump out. She's not crazy about baths or nail trimming, but likes everyone telling her how gorgeous she is when it's done. She doesn't like getting shots, but both our vets adore her. She has been walking with me lately, and we're up to 7 kilometres. She doesn't get tired but she gets bored because I don't let her stop and sniff.
Most people don't notice Dulcie is blind until we tell them. I don't think that Dulcie notices either.
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Stevie & Wonder
Stevie and Wonder first came to me when they where 3 months old, I was their groomer. They are brothers and where born blind. They have no retinas. Their owner came to me when they where about 9 months, looking to see if I would adopt them so they could get more attention. I was so happy to say yes!
The next step was to tie bells to my leg so they could follow me around the house. I have never treated them like blind dogs. I started clicker training them by rewarding them for the right action. They have a doggie door at the house and they where potty train super fast!!! My main thing was to socialize them and take them places to meet and smell new people and things. They love to go for car rides!
I feel that it is now my responsibility to let people now, what a wonderful, full and fun life they live...and how easy they are to take care off. We love to meet children and adults that have never encountered a blind dog. After they meet the dogs, I tell them they are blind!!! he he he.. I love the look on their face when they realize they cant see. I have continued to train and take them places to promote blind dog adoption.
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Sullivan's Story
Sullivan our blind Siberian Husky came into our lives 1993 as a 3 month old puppy who had been brought into the Vet to be put to sleep, he was born blind and she,the breeder could not sell him. Our Vet had her sign the puppy over and was working on finding him a home when the puppy developed Parvo, he was treated for that and survived with no lasting effects.
I was in the office for an appointment with one of my dogs and Dr. Armstrong(the Vet) asked me if I would be interested in a puppy. I asked him what was wrong with the puppy,and laughed, as we have always have dogs with the craziest health challenges and he said nothing, he's just blind. Well of course I had to see this little guy and went home to tell my husband and kids about this puppy. We all went back to the office to see him and he was ours right then and there.
No one was ever aware of his blindness as he walked out in front of the other dogs on the walk,he was always in the middle which helped, and never had any problems navigating the house or steps. He did not like being confined in a crate so he was never crate trained but he was trust worthy in the house and never had a problem.
We also had a blind cat at the same time and people thought we must be crazy. I would never have changed a thing, a blind animal is no problem at all. We have two blind dogs now and they get around as well as our sighted ones do.
Sullivan passed away at the age of 11 due to cancer. He lived a happy, normal life and we were blessed to have been given the chance to adopt him. He is dearly missed every day.
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Story By: Hazel Shindle
Blind Dog Rescue Alliance Member
Scruffie's StoryScruffie came into my life as an abandoned stray puppy. She became a very important part of the family. If she did something wrong (and she knew when she did) she would hide her head under the bed. She thought if she couldn't see us, we couldn't she her fat butt. She was a smart loving cuddle baby.MY family referred to her as Saint Scruffie because as far as I was concerned she did no wrong. If she chewed my daughter's expensive shoes, it was my daughter's fault for leaving them out.When my daughter brought home her future husband, who professed to love dogs Scruffie wanted no part of him. She always watched him like a hawk. After one year of marriage to my daughter Scruffie was the only one right and we were all wrong.I had the pleasure of her company for 21 years. Ten of those years she was considered "damaged" because of Glaucoma. Every time some one would ask why I didn't just "put her down" I told them that I was trying even the score for every dog dragging around a blind person.She went through a lot. I took her for laser surgery, put drops in her eyes, used cream every night. I now wonder if any of this caused her pain. She certainly didn't mind losing her sight. She still tried to catch squirrels right up to the end. She was always special but the more she lost her sight, the more she became a smarter, more loving dog. I could swear she developed ESP. She always knew where everything was. I once tried to fool her, she hated peas, I thought since she could not see them she would eat them. When I went to pick up her plate there was eight perfectly clean peas. She probably took them in her mouth knew what they were and spit them out. I feel as if she became part of MY SOUL. After I came home from major surgery I was forced to say in bed for awhile. She knew I was in pain but still wanted her in bed with me. On the second day, she put her front paws on the mattress and balanced her hind paws on the box spring and slowly crawled over to me on her belly so not to shake the bed. My family told me that the whole time I was in bed they had force her to go out to do her business. They had to bring her food to the bedroom or she would not eat. All this from my damaged dog. I lost both my parents while I had Scruffie. I mourned, but, I kept going. When I lost Scruffie I had to go to the University of PA Berevmnet Clinic for consul ling. She was the best dog I have ever had sighted or not .I could go on forever telling you how beautiful she was and smart she was. She is the reason that I feel honored to be a volunteer for BDRA. I know how special these dogs are and if I can help even one then I feel that I respecting Scruffie's memory. I know that Scruffie will be waiting for me with all my other animals when it is my time because it wouldn't be Heaven if I couldn't be with her again.Story By: Rose Abrams
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Lessons Taught By Sammy
My Observations of Having a Blind Dog As A Family Member
October 3, 2011We have welcomed a new member into our family. His name is Samson and he is a dog that was rescued by Almost Home Rescue group of Ohio (www.almosthomeohio.org). Sammy is a mahogany collie between four three and four years old. He was born with five different eye issues including detached retinas. Thus he cannot even see light and has always lived in a completely dark world. Up until seven months ago he was locked in a cage in a small mobile home with more than seventy other collies. He lived in filth, had never been to a vet and didn’t have enough to eat. Naturally when these dogs were rescued the blind dog was viewed, as being one that most thought should be put down. Thanks Almost Home and two incredible women, Grace Bowels, who fostered Sammy, and Charlene Molnar, who keeps the options for special need dogs open, Sammy was saved. Over the past seven months Grace has worked with wonders with him. She even drove him from Michigan to Central Illinois in order to get him into our hands. Now Sammy is home with us.My initial observations on his trip to Arkansas with me and his first day in our home have been fascinating. It took him less than an hour to completely map out the first floor of our house. He now has our large backyard mapped out as well. He can run full speed and avoid the trees, land chairs and our fence. He had learned to climb the steep steps up to our second floor, but has yet to master going down by himself. That will take a while and some work on my part. As he is blind, stepping off into what seems like nothing on a wood service is not a natural thing to do. Thus Kathy and I will have to prove ourselves to Sammy in order for him to have faith in our lead. I know that will come and we don’t mind waiting for it. He is an incredibly happy dog. He is curious and alert. He wants to make friends with everyone one and everything (including the cats). Tiger is not sure about this canine-feline friendship yet. He is also a gentle soul who prances when he walks. In many ways he seems like a teddy bear. His ability to so quickly map our home tells me he is very smart, thus training him should be easy. My first walk with he and Baby (our other collie) was interesting. He tends to wander from side to side a bit, rather than walk in a straight line like most dogs I have owned. To me this seems natural as he is not sight oriented. He also seems to listen to Baby's steps to judge where he needs to be and what kind of surface is ahead. Thus I can see how his “vision” works and so I am developing a language to help him know what is coming.About once an hour he comes over to my desk and lays his head on my knee, but he is not demanding. And he loves to hear the sound of either Kathy's or my voice. To watch his ears and face as I talk to him is simply amazing. It is like he is trying to understand each nuance and tone. With good fortune we will have Sammy for at least a decade. I am sure that during those years we will learn far more from him than he will from us. His being blind will no doubt enrich our lives and likely teach us how to deal better with humans who have disabilities. In fact, I can see Kathy adapting new strategies for the classroom from what Sammy shares with us. I plan on writing much more about Lessons From Sammy as we continue forward. For the moment I just wanted to share with you our initial observations.
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