Dogs have the power to stay endlessly positive through any hardship, so long as they have love on their side. And there's no further proof of that than a two-year-old blind golden retriever named Jake, who has a golden retriever sibling named Addie, who essentially acts as his eyes.
"We got Jake after our previous golden Molly passed away and Addie came into our lives after our golden Wrigley died," Kim, their owner, told Bored Panda. "Jake was very sad after his buddy was gone and we knew he needed a sibling." But what Kim didn't know was how pivotal Addie would become in Jake's life.
Jake began having seizures when he was still a puppy, but his real problems began when he turned two.
“We noticed an issue with his eyes,” Kim said. "Over the subsequent months, in spite of trying every medication recommended by our vet’s eye specialist as well as multiple surgeries, his eyes steadily deteriorated. We were faced with a painful decision: have Jake’s eyes removed or have him put to sleep."
Kim said that both options seemed "cruel," especially given that Jake had already suffered so much. But after speaking with the vet and other dog owners, she became convinced that Jake could still lead a good life in spite of the loss of his vision.
"Our vet also counseled us that, to a dog, sight is actually number three on their list of senses, as both smell and hearing are more important to them," Kim said.
In fact, it didn't even take Jake very long to bounce back from having his eyes removed.
"Immediately after waking up from surgery, our vet said that Jake began wagging his tail,” she said. “His months of pain were over, and he was letting us know!”
While it did take him a little time to physically adjust, Jake made the whole ordeal seem pretty easy, all things considered.
“He still bumps into things now and then, but he also navigates the house and our neighborhood walks with surprising ease. And thankfully, his playful nature has returned!” Kim said.
In addition to the support of his humans, Jake's also got the most loyal of friends in Addie.
“Jake follows Addie’s sound and smell," Kim said. "After Jake’s surgery, Addie wore a little bell on her collar for a while until he got used to tracking her on his own.”
The two of them do everything together, go on walks and adventures, eat breakfast, play outside, nap, and chase squirrels.
"She loves being everywhere we are and is always ready to share kisses," Kim said of Addie.
Seeing how happy Jake is, Kim knows they made the right decision.
“We’re so happy we made the choice we did, and so grateful for the many people who encouraged us to do so," she told Bored Panda. "Jake reminds us every day that his life still holds great purpose and value in spite of all his challenges.”
And for another inspiring story about a dog with a disability, check out This Paralyzed Dog’s Endless Positivity and Ability to Run Will Inspire You.
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