Robin Wagner, from Burlington, Vermont, and her boyfriend spent a long time searching for the perfect dog. Their luck changed when Robin stumbled upon Blaze’s adoption profile online – she felt an instant connection; it was love at first picture.
Many Unexpected Surprises
“We didn’t know about the teeth before he came home. That was a glorious surprise,” Robin shared with GeoBeats Animals. The teeth were just one of many unexpected surprises.
After adopting Blaze, a German Shepherd/Greyhound mix, they were informed that despite his sunken eyes, he seemed fine. Yet, a visit to a veterinary ophthalmologist revealed that he was completely blind in his right eye and needed surgery to salvage any vision in his left eye. This was a tough revelation, but Robin and her boyfriend were determined to support their new companion.
“About two weeks post-surgery, I was walking Blaze and he started colliding with everything. I took him back to the ophthalmologist and discovered that the surgery was unsuccessful and Blaze was blind in his left eye as well,” Robin recounted.
Though Blaze was now completely blind, he adjusted remarkably, learning to navigate his surroundings with minimal issues. “We had to remove his right eye due to frequent infections. I think I struggled with the change more than he did,” Robin admitted.
Blind Boy Blaze
With numerous challenges surfacing, it took a considerable amount of time for Robin and her boyfriend to help Blaze achieve good health. Initially weighing only 50 pounds, they managed to increase his weight to 80 pounds. Once he was physically stable, attention shifted to addressing his behavioral issues. “We’re collaborating closely with a trainer to help Blaze become less apprehensive about the world,” Robin noted.
Becoming blind significantly hindered Blaze’s confidence, leading to increased anxiety and reactivity. To alleviate his anxiety, they began to communicate more effectively with him, helping him feel more secure. The training journey was challenging yet rewarding.
“We certainly didn’t foresee the multitude of challenges we would encounter after adopting Blaze. However, given the opportunity, I would choose to do it all over again. He’s my best friend, and I am grateful for him every single day,” Robin said.
Interestingly, their cat, Satin, also serves as Blaze’s guide cat! Satin meows and chirps to alert Blaze, preventing him from bumping into her or furniture. “Whenever he was walking towards her, she would meow, prompting him to stop and redirect himself,” their mom explained to People.
Even though Satin isn’t the most affectionate cat, she certainly shows her love for Blaze. You can follow their daily adventures on Blaze’s Instagram.
