SonoPixie

So you newer folks don't know me, I used to be pretty active.
Background: a local breeder tried to place Medusa, a female doberman with me (a family home), who was going blind with cataracts. The only thing this poor girl knew was protection work, which I have never done. I had her spayed. Then I tried for 3 months to make it work, but she had my 98lb Dober male, slinking against the walls to stay away from her. I spent the whole 3 months in the middle of the room keeping them apart. I enlisted a trainer. I ended up going to the ER for stitches, from breaking up her and my red Dober girl (Medusa is trained to not let go, but she immediately did when she got a hold of my arm. She could not see well, it was my fault for reaching in a dog fight). Local eye specialists said her cataracts were not operable (told her breeder).
I have had INTENSE guilt over sending her back to her breeder. A big knot in my stomach for letting her down.

Currant: She has a wonderful new home in TX. Her owners flew down and picked her out of numerous other dogs doing a protection demo. Even going blind she beat them all. They paid $10,000 for her, had some training and took her back to TX. It soon became apparent that vision was getting much worse. They found a specialist there who removed her supposed inoperable cataracts and replaced the lens of her eyes. She is right where God wanted her to be. Bless her little heart. This picture is her with her family whose home was featured in a magazine. This is pre-op. She is now about 1.5 weeks out from her surgery. Just wanted to update those of you who took an interest in the situation. Her name is now Ziva. And I now have Zasha Fearless who I got from a shelter in NC when she was little. I could only introduce a pup after all the stress my other 3 went through. I adore her (even love her breath).
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DogsR4Life

That is wonderful news, she seems like she is going to have a great life.

Just out of curiosity, why did they pay $10,000 for her? Was it to contribute to a rescue, or rehab centre?

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SonoPixie

No, it was for ability in protection work. Even going blind she beat many other dogs he showed them. They live in an isolated area and had many break ins to their home. I don't agree with many things her breeder did, and this was one. Poor Medusa. But it all worked out anyway. They love her for her, even if she couldn't see. Instead of sending her back with worsening vision, they fixed her so she could see, praise God. It all worked out in the end.

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lolonurse

thanks for a very interesting story! nice to see you.

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dax0402

Love a story with a happy ending. Thanks for sharing it.

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Lois and Baron

workingk9s

ETA:
Ok, I reread and see that I missed that she will be a sighted dog now for the future. Nevermind! Glad she has a new home!

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kmbeach22

Thanks for sharing the update! I love hearing about a happy ending for everyone!

MelissaRz

What a great story!! Love that it had a happy ending to it -- for all involved! Congratulations on your new pup!

maggiemay

That is such great news!
I do remember when you got her and some of the issues that you had with her.
So happy she has found a great home and congrats on your new pup

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GingerGunlock

I was going to say something about "equal opportunity employment" and blind protection dogs...and then got to the part about her eyes being fixed! That's amazing! See, I guess you shouldn't have to feel bad for returning her, since she ended up in just the right place.

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SonoPixie

Yes it is such a relief to my heart that she is happy and can see better again. She is in a 1 dog home, which works best for her. Although she plays well with other dogs that are not dominant.

Ok, I'll stop about it now. I'm just so happy I wanted to share in an environment of people who care about the breed.

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GingerGunlock

It's a great thing to be happy about, no apologies or excuses necessary!

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bsisco

Great she has her sight and a home. I'm not really familiar with protection work. If she's trained to not let go, is that just until you give her a release command? I'm assuming that protection training means from any threat, human or animal. Considering your other dobe was living in the house with her I'm also wondering if the problem with him was the fact that she couldn't see him and so in her mind everything was a threat.

SonoPixie

Yes on both accounts. Bear in mind I don't practice protection training, but she she has a release command. And yes she saw Quentin as a threat, a 98lb hulking shadow (she is a small Dobergirl).
I'm so happy it has worked out good for her. Better than I could have done.

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RedFawnRising

Glad everything worked out so well in the end.

Missed you around here

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SonoPixie

Missed you too Karen. How are all your babies?

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