Robin Wagner from Burlington, Vermont, had been searching for the ideal dog for quite some time. When she stumbled upon Blaze’s adoption profile online, she felt an instant connection. It was love at first sight. However, it wasn’t until she brought him home that she discovered unexpected surprises about him.
Many Unexpected Surprises
“We didn’t even know about the teeth before he came home. That was a glorious surprise,” Robin shared with GeoBeats Animals. But the surprises didn’t stop there. Upon adopting Blaze—a German Shepherd/Greyhound mix—she was informed that despite his sunken eyes, he likely had no vision problems. It wasn’t until a visit to a veterinary ophthalmologist that they discovered he was completely blind in his right eye and required surgery to potentially save what little vision remained in his left eye.
Despite this setback, they chose not to give up on their beloved Blaze. “About two weeks post-surgery, I took Blaze on a walk, and he started bumping into everything. I rushed him back to the ophthalmologist where we learned the surgery hadn’t succeeded, and he was completely blind in his left eye as well,” Robin recounted.
Despite being completely blind, Blaze showed remarkable resilience, learning to navigate his new world with surprising ease. He faced this drastic change with a grace that surprised his family. “We had his right eye surgically removed due to repeated infections. I think I was more affected by the change than he was,” Robin reflected.
Blind Boy Blaze
Due to various health issues, it took a significant amount of time to get Blaze healthy. Initially weighing 50 pounds, he eventually rebounded to a healthier 80 pounds. Once Blaze was physically stable, they could concentrate on his behavioral training, as he had become very anxious and reactive after losing his sight. “We’re working closely with a trainer to help Blaze be a bit less apprehensive about the world,” Robin explained.
Since Blaze couldn’t see what was happening around him, his family began to communicate more with him, easing his anxiety. The training proved to be challenging but rewarding, as Robin noted:
“We didn’t anticipate the multitude of challenges we would face after adopting Blaze. However, if given the chance to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. He’s my very best friend, and I count my lucky stars for him every single day,” Robin stated.
Their cat, Satin, also serves as Blaze’s guide cat! She uses meows and chirps to alert Blaze and prevent him from bumping into her or the furniture. “Every time he started walking towards her, she would meow, prompting him to stop and redirect himself,” their mom told People. Although Satin may not be the cuddliest cat, she undeniably shows her affection for Blaze. For our daily adventures, you can follow their journey on Blaze’s Instagram.
