Truly a sight for paw eyes!
A blind dog that was taken to the vets to be put down has instead transformed the life of an autistic girl.
Cocker Spaniel Stevie – named after music legend Stevie Wonder – was moments from death, after a breeder decided he didn’t want him anymore because of his limited eyesight.
The Dog’s Trust charity agreed to take in the two-year-old pooch after being contacted by vets before he was adopted by 47-year-old Vickie Tatlow of Manchester.
Vickie said Stevie had since changed the life of her daughter Tegan.
The 18-year-old was housebound and barely spoke until Stevie became their beloved family pet. The pair now share an inseparable bond.
“He gets lots of kisses and cuddles and head scratches and you can see they’re both so happy,” she said.
Stevie is also enjoying a new lease of life after specialist vets at Eye Vet Referrals carried out a rare double cataract operation, saving his eyesight.
Full-time carer Vickie said: “It really is wonderful. They’re like best friends and they both rely on each other.
“Stevie absolutely dotes on Tegan and follows her everywhere, while having him around has made such a difference to Tegan and had such a positive effect.”
Vickie said Stevie’s arrival had prompted Tegan to start doing things again.
“Before he arrived, Tegan would Rarely go out of the house but now she’s up early every morning to take him for a walk,” she explained.
“She is also extremely focused on ensuring that during his recovery she puts drops in his eyes six times a day and giving him two lots of tablets.”
Vickie said when her family initially met Stevie, “the whole family fell for him straight away but especially Tegan”.
When they adopted him he was totally blind in one eye and could barely see out of the other.
“This is when they forged that first bond and became so close, with Stevie following wherever Tegan led, with Tegan patiently teaching him to play fetch with a tennis ball, throwing it a couple of feet away so he could find it,” Vickie said.
She explained that Stevie was a bit “unsure of himself at first” having been blind for so long, “but Tegan and the rest of the family have helped him adapt and adjust and he’s now loving life”.
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Vickie, who also lives with husband Andy, 50, and son Harry, 14, says Tegan’s confidence has increasingly improved as Stevie continues to recover.
She added: “Tegan loves animals and has now signed up for a course on equine care.
“She struggled with school life because she couldn’t speak to other people or be in a crowded area but she still gained seven GCSEs.
“Now, she’s attending college. I have to go with her to help and she receives one-on-one tuition, which is terrific.”
The Dogs Trust funded one of the cataract operations while Eye Vet ophthalmic director Iona Mathieson carried out the life-changing surgeries.
Vicky added: “We did a 99km walk to raise funds for the Dogs Trust to thank them for all their help and support with Stevie.”
