Lola's Progress

I have been amazed by her ability to so quickly adapt to going blind very suddenly. She already makes it around the apartment rarely bumping into things in a matter of days. I took her out to my cousins house yesterday. I was worried she would be really nervous about not having the place memorized. She had been there several times. She came in and did run into some things. I kept her on her leash for a short time and walked her around the place so she could get used to it. I took off her leash and she did wonderfully. Even their dog was careful around her. It makes me feel so much better that she is going to be just fine. I notice she gets frustrated sometimes and wines but gets through it and is confident again.

My dream has always been to live on the sailboat I was looking for when she lost her sight. I don't think right now I will continue that search but in the future we will see. She has been good on the boat I have now but it isn't big enough to live on. That is why I was looking to buy a bigger boat as soon as this one sells. Some things have to wait. It's ok I just want her and I to be happy and comfortable. 

I did order her some doggles. I thought it would help to protect those beautiful big brown eyes. All I need is for her to poke her eye and have that injury to deal with. They look like they will be very cute as well. I just hope she will wear them.

Lola the Pug

I found Lola on the Pug Rescue of Sacramento website and it was love at first site. Her big bug eyes and smashed nose were all I noticed from her profile picture. I missed the part about her ears being eaten around the edges by flies, she had a raging bladder infection and she had had puppies recently, somewhere. She was picked up off the streets of Hayward, Ca and had been there for no one knows how long. She was a bag of bones when I saw her at the foster home. Although her attitude said it all. She was one tough chick. Even being stinky and pretty nasty looking I couldn't help bringing her home. Over time and a lot of attention she turned out to be a very healthy, loving, loyal companion.

Six years later and many funny and crazy times, that I can get into another time, we embark on a new challenge. Lola started having trouble seeing things. Within about two weeks and three expensive vet appointments it was determined she had something called SARDS (Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome). She is now completely blind and there is no treatment to correct it. This is where I get really amazed at the resiliance and acceptance of dogs. She has been nervous and extra needy, understandably, the last two days. I decided to try and see how she would do if we just did things as we normally have. She already is getting around the apartment without hardly bumping into things. Today we went to the dog park and to my amazement she trotted around and sniffed and peed like nothing was different. The only thing that had changed was that she would stop every once in a while and look lost until I would say something and then she would be fine again. It was very promising to me as I was really worried how she would be able to manage with her sight being lost so suddenly.

It gives me hope in my own life to take that as an example to just accept what is dealt me and make the best out of it. I wanted to start this blog to chronicle her progress  and maybe, if anybody was to read it, it could help someone else with hardship.