I need everybodys input.

DLS · 06-26-2008, 12:36 PM

Some of you may have seen the posting in the rescue section about Sasha. If not here is the scenario. 11 month old female Black and tan unwanted by her owners. Her foster Mom with help from the Betterlife rescue org.have taken care of the many problems that Sasha was found to have, broken canine removed, wormed etc. BUT, they have learned that this poor girl's vision is impaired, to what extent we do not know though when an object was moved in their yard Sasha ran into it. So she could become blind, who knows. She was having 'fits' quite often as well, but it was determined that this is just her learned way of fighting off things that she cannot see, such as the other dogs where she came from. There has been major improvments with the 'fits' as all it takes is the call of her name a soft touch or the shake of a can with coins in it to get her attention and it instantly calms her anxiety. She is learning how to judge stairs and can now climb them, though she is very careful and moves slow. She is even learning to walk on a lead which is attached to her harness not a collar,she freaks on the collar and I think it is because her owners did not even know how blind she was so they just dragged her around.

I would take her in myself but as many of you know I live a very isolated life here in the middle of the bush. My cabin is small, i allready have 4 dogs living with me. I cannnot give Sasha the one on one that she needs, I could foster her but I cannot adopt her. It would not be fair to my dogs or Sasha. And to find a forever home for a visually impaired dog will be very difficult.

My question to all of you is. What do you think would be best for this girl?

**dobermansrule** · 06-26-2008, 12:53 PM

does anyone know what is wrong with her vision? correctable? It's hard because you can't simply put a dog in front of an eye chart and ask her to read the smallest line.. so that will be the first question a lot of potential adopters will ask.

I hate to think worse case, but if the vision is basically gone, at her age, given the issues already and the fact that under the wrong care her behavior issues could get worse, she might have to be put down. Nobody would want a potential liability.

But thinking better case, she needs a low key home with someone who obviously has the time to devote to her. A one story house would probably be ideal. A fenced yard a must. somewhere where she can establish her routine and routes and not feel threatened.

DLS · 06-26-2008, 12:59 PM

I agree dobiesrule, but so hard to find such a home. As to how bad her vision is or why it is going or if she will be blind only a Vet and a lot more money will tell us that. Funds are very limited.

Crow · 06-26-2008, 01:09 PM

It may not be as hard as you think to home a visually impaired dog. There are people who almost specialise in taking in rescue dogs with disabilities of one sort or another - they make a point of giving homes the dogs that no one else wants, and often they have a lot of experience. So if you could foster her for a while, it would give you some time to find such a person.

Or you could just wrap her in brown paper and send her across the sea to me

DLS · 06-26-2008, 01:24 PM

Thanks Crow, we are checking into 'special' needs homes. But it would probably mean shipping her if we are lucky enough to find such a home. And I don't know if that would be a good idea taking into consideration how bad her reactions are to any kind of stressful situations.
If we could find such a home near to where she is now, that would be AWESOME! But the Foster home where she is now cannot keep her indefinitely. And we cannot just put her in a kennel situation as most rescue orgs. are full to the brim. ANd a kennel situatuion would not help this girl at all.

Lexxsmom · 06-26-2008, 01:44 PM

poor girl, I don't really know what to add other than I hope that she finds a wonderful home that loves her for who she is.

I just hope that the vision problems don't lead to aggression from fear, has she ever shown aggressive tendencies?

DLS · 06-26-2008, 01:50 PM

Thanks Lexxsmom, Sasha is not the least bit agressive, she is just confused in her little vision impaired world. Other that that she is your typical velcro, only wants to please and LOVES cuddling.

**ellenm** · 06-26-2008, 01:51 PM

My concern is the same as lexxsmom....she is still just a very unknown at this point and a very young dog to have such severe problems.
Whoever adopts her may never be able to leave her. I would think a stay at a kennel so they could go on vacation would be too much for this dog. It is going to have to be a very committed, lifelong home, whoever ends up with this dog.

I'm not saying to give up on the dog, but there are a lot of other dogs(Dobermans) with very minimal problems compared to this girl waiting for homes.

Crow · 06-26-2008, 01:53 PM

I did a spot of googling. Don't know if these are any use to you but they might give you some leads and advice:

Blind Dogs.net - Where dogs see with their heart!

Owners of Blind Dogs

DLS · 06-26-2008, 01:57 PM

So true ellenm, Therein lies the problem. How much can we expect this little girl to endure? I am pissed that her 'breeder owners' have left this decision in others hands.