Hope is alive after being rescued from another shelter that planned to euthanize her because she is blind. The Santa Cruz SPCA now “hopes” to find someone who can give this wonderful dog a chance and offer her a home in which to live as well as a heart in which to love.
This beautiful two-year-old Chocolate Labrador was found as a stray and after being evaluated by a vet was found to have Sudden Acquired Retinal Deterioration Syndrome (SARDS), a disease that effects about 4000 dogs a year and causes them to go blind in a short amount of time. Hope is not in any pain but is definitely confused as to why she can no longer see her surroundings. She is incredibly friendly, sweet and exuberant but is just beginning the adjustment period and is in dire need of someone to help her along on this new site-less journey.
Owning a blind dog requires a bit of effort and a lot of understanding but can be a very rewarding bonding experience. There are many resources out there to help dogs and humans successfully cope and thrive with the disability. Hope is very smart and aims to please; making her a volunteer favorite but she needs to learn the new boundaries she now has. She loves to go for walks and is learning to listen to the walker’s voice for direction. Because she can’t see, her other senses (hearing, smell and feeling) will heighten over time, helping her more and more.
A special home is being sought for Hope. It would be wonderful to find someone who has previous experience with blind dogs or a strong person who is research-oriented and up for a rewarding challenge. Of course, we will provide as many resources as possible to the lucky person who ends up with Hope. She is a wonderful dog with a ton of potential who seeks someone who “sees” that special something in this extraordinary girl.
The adoption package for dogs and cats includes spay/neuter, vaccinations, micro-chipping, an ID tag, collar, a free health exam with a licensed Veterinarian , one month’s free health insurance, discounted crate purchase and other animal care materials.
If you would like to help animals like Hope and her orphaned friends, please consider donating to the Santa Cruz SPCA. The Santa Cruz SPCA is a 501c3 charitable organization and receives no government funding, relying solely on public donations to run its many programs that benefit the animals and people of our community.
For more information call the Santa Cruz SPCA at 465-5000, or visit www.santacruzspca.org. The SPCA is located at 2685 Chanticleer Avenue in Santa Cruz, CA 95065 and is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday, 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 p.m.
