No dog is born to fight alone in the streets; rather, they seek a loving companion to share their lives with.
This sentiment resonates even more for dogs with special needs, who require extra encouragement to navigate through challenges.
Sadly, not every owner possesses the compassion to comprehend the true essence of this need.
A tiny blind dog, whose indifferent guardians overlooked his genuine worth, experienced this harsh reality first-hand.
They abandoned him without so much as a farewell…
His Guardians Failed Him
One day, animal control discovered a Chihuahua-Papillon mix aimlessly wandering the streets of Los Angeles, California. The officers promptly took action and transported him to the city shelter.
There, it became apparent that the dog was blind. The rescuers believed he might be lost and began searching for his owners, relieved when they managed to find them shortly after.
The volunteers discovered the dog was named Jake, and that he had been missing for quite some time.
Initially believing this story would have a swift happy ending, they soon realized they were sorely mistaken.
Supposedly, Jake’s owners wanted him back but declined to pay the $20 fee to retrieve him.
They stated that “he is not worth it” and simply walked away. The shelter staff was left in disbelief, and Jake, poor soul, curled up in his small bed, visibly heartbroken.
The onlookers at the shelter were moved by Jake’s plight and decided collectively that they would not give up on him.
Compassionate People Took Action
A few days after Jake’s rescue, an animal control officer reached out to her friend, Tera McCurry, the director of Doggie Protective Services, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing dogs and cats in California.
“She mentioned they had an adorable little dog who was about a year old and very friendly,” Tera recounted for The Pet Collective Cares.
However, when Tera inquired about what was “wrong” with the dog, the officer hesitated, and Tera suspected it might be something serious like blindness.
Understanding the difficult reality for blind dogs generally, and how challenging it is for them to find homes while in shelters, she recognized she couldn’t just walk away.
“A blind dog in a shelter in Southern California rarely gets adopted,” Tera reflected. “In most cases, a blind dog only has a chance of getting out of the shelter through a rescue.”
That’s when she made the compassionate choice to foster Jake and assist this unfortunate, blind pup in discovering a brand-new future.
And guess what? The bond they created was immensely successful. Tera shared that Jake became the family’s cherished pet, and over time, they even started to forget his blindness.
Jake was energetic, loved playing with other dogs, and cherished cuddle time. He was just like any typical dog.
“If only people could see beyond his disability, they would realize just what an incredible dog he truly was, and he would have surely found his home,” Tera remarked.
For His New Family, Jake Meant So Much More
It seemed as though Tera had conjured fate with her last statement. One afternoon, along with the team at Doggie Protective Services, she hosted an adoption event where little Jake was featured.
On that day, a woman named Heidi happened by and was immediately captivated by a small puppy that caught her eye. It was Jake. Despite her instant affection for him, Heidi hesitated to adopt him upon learning he was blind.
“I thought to myself that I didn’t need another dog, so I walked away,” Heidi recounted for The Pet Collective Cares. “But, I returned the following week.”
Heidi kept coming back for the next three weeks until she ultimately decided to welcome Jake into her family. It felt miraculous.
Despite his blindness, Jake seamlessly adapted to his new home, and his new canine siblings embraced him warmly. His older brother, River, was particularly welcoming, and the two became inseparable.
“It’s remarkable; he runs on the beach just like my other dogs, engages with his siblings playfully, and has learned the layout of my yard perfectly. He behaves just like any other dog,” Heidi proudly declared.
Ultimately, what truly matters is that to Jake’s new family, he was valued far beyond $20; he brought immeasurable joy and love into their lives.
Jake was everything to them.
