Blind Husky Dog Finds New Joy In Life When He Gets His Own 'Guide Dog'
When Sterling lost his sight to glaucoma, life in Seattle got a lot harder for the 11-year-old Siberian husky. His family did everything they could to help him adjust, but the biggest change came when another dog entered the picture.
That dog was Walker, and he quickly became more than a companion. With a little help from his new friend, Sterling started exploring the world again, and the bond between them turned into something his family never expected.
Now the two are inseparable, and Sterling is finding joy in places he once could not reach. Here's the full story.
Sterling, who lives with his family in Seattle, lost his eyesight three years ago because of glaucoma.
Lillian and Mark McKee, his owners, saw how deeply the blindness affected their poor pup, and they were afraid their fur baby wouldn't be able to adapt to his difficult new lifestyle. Thankfully, everything changed when Walker showed up.
Lilian said:
“When he was diagnosed with glaucoma, it was devastating. We tried to fight it for a year and a half, but we knew we couldn’t prevent it for much longer.”
When Sterling met Walker, a 10-year-old Alaskan Malamute, they became the best of friends, and Walker accidentally became Sterling's guide dog. As it turns out, Walker, who was very spirited, was all Sterling needed to overcome the tough obstacles he was facing due to his vision loss.
It’s a similar kind of miracle to the moment a blind dog had surgery and saw his loving family for the first time.
The owners explained:
“After his first procedure, he was pretty down, but we took him to the beach with Walker, and he perked up instantly. We’ve found that continuing his favorite activities, like running, long walks, and trips to the beach, have really helped him be his old cheery self. He [Walker] loves getting him to play, and part of me thinks he doesn’t even realize that Sterling is blind sometimes.”
Walker hasn't just become a service dog; he has become Sterling's ultimate best friend.
Walker doesn't just comfort Sterling and help him explore the world; he's also right next to him during their very best moments. Their bond is so strong that they even eat and sleep together, and this companionship has brought Sterling back to the happy dog he has always been.
Lilian said:
“I think having someone to boss around is definitely why he’s still such a happy dog. I wasn’t planning on adopting Walker either, but when his foster couldn’t look after him anymore, he instantly became part of the family.”
Of course, Walker also wanted a pair of his own, so his parents got him one as well. They said:
“To protect his eyes, Sterling has a few pairs of ski goggles that we rotate. So he doesn’t feel left out, Walker has a pair too.”
Dogs rely heavily on their senses to navigate the world and understand their environment, and losing one of those senses is a difficult adjustment for them. Of course, they don't fully understand what's happening, so they can become confused, anxious, and frustrated.
Thankfully for Sterling, he has found a pal to help guide him through the world and 'see' it in a different way. Follow these two pups' journey by following them on Instagram @sterlingandwalker.
Wondering how a blind dog bonded with a guide, check out the Staffie who found a lifelong companion after learning guide-dog communication.
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