Blind Husky Dog Finds New Joy In Life When He Gets His Own 'Guide Dog'
Blindness in dogs can develop gradually or occur suddenly, depending on the cause. Either way, knowing that your dog is suffering from vision loss can be a heartbreaking experience.
While adjusting to your pet's illness and vision loss might be challenging and at times frustrating, it's even more upsetting for the dog, who suddenly has to reset its entire life and functions because of it. They must find a new way to live, be in tune with their surroundings, and continue to live their life to the fullest.
In those moments, their humans will be among their most important supporters during the transition. However, there are times when human guidance cannot compare to the companionship of another pet like them.
That was exactly the case with Sterling, a sweet 11-year-old Siberian husky who went blind due to glaucoma. While his family tried their utmost to help their furry friend adapt to his new lifestyle, it wasn't until Walker showed up that the husky found new hope in his life.
Now, he's rediscovering the world with his new friend. Check out the whole story below.
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.
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.”
To protect his eyes from any powerful light or sun, Sterling has a pair of goggles to wear.
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.
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