Sugar
Update
“Thank you to everyone who donated toward a Muffin’s Halo for Sugar, the blind and deaf chi-mix. She received the halo yesterday and here she is outside. Sugar is quickly getting the hang of it. THANK YOU!!!!”
Kim D.
Backstory
“Sugar was pulled from a high-kill shelter; she was on their euthanasia list. A Heinz 57, a foster-based rescue located in Central Iowa, placed Sugar with me as a foster in August.
She is completely blind and mostly deaf. Sugar is such a happy dog – always running around with an “up tail” and wagging her rear. Just love this lil’ girl! A halo would help her get around immensely and decrease her hitting her head on objects and walls.”
Kim D.
“Angel” Naru
Update
“We were so grateful when an angel stepped forward & provided our little Naru with a Muffin’s Halo. Sadly, Naru had to be euthanized last night. Is there an angel who needs a halo (medium size)? We’d like to pay forward the kindness we were shown. Thank you.”
S & J Dorsey
We are so sorry for your loss. Please find comfort that Naru has many of our friends in heaven greeting him xo
Backstory
“Naru is an 8.5 year old Miniature Pinscher with vaccinosis and cataracts. Her vaccinosis has manifested itself via extreme allergies. She is highly sensitive to pretty much everything. We have to be careful what she eats, drinks, wears, etc because pretty much everything has the potential to cause her to have an allergic reaction (yes, she’s literally allergic to water). When she starts reacting to something, it’s hard to get things back under control. It starts out with her breaking out in a rash (and sometimes hives). It quickly advances to the scratching stage, where she’ll dig herself until she’s literally raw and bleeding.
At one point, she had her ears looking like hamburger because they were so torn up. Over the years, we have tried various cones, inflatable cushions, clothes, etc to keep her from scratching herself raw, but she always found ways around it. She’d enlist the other two dogs to help her by getting them to scratch, lick, or chew whatever part of her that was itching! She even went so far as to use the corner of our platform bed and the carpeted stairs to scratch whatever was itching! She required constant supervision and medical attention for her wounds. Her ears bear permanent scars from her scratching.
When her allergy problems first became apparent, we contacted the breeder (who turned out to be a puppy mill owner), as it was was occurring within the first 3 weeks we’d owned her. We explained what was happening and the breeder offered to “exchange her for another puppy” because “the runts usually have health problems”. That didn’t sit well with me. I asked her straight out what she expected to do with Naru if she was returned (which I’d already decided was NOT going to happen!!), and she said, and I quote, “I’ll probably just put her down. It’s not like I can resell her.” I immediately refused to return her. We were already attached and I was NOT about to allow her to be euthanized for something that wasn’t her fault!
It took hundreds of vet visits, thousands of dollars, and nearly 7 years for us to finally find someone who could help us. Now, thanks to our current vet, Naru rarely ever has an outbreak (maybe once or twice a year), and even when she does, a simple quick bath and a dose of her meds usually cure it. She is literally medication free right now and hasn’t had an outbreak in months. She is doing so well, but we still are careful (and a tad paranoid) because the fear is still there that something could trigger her allergies at any time.
We learned earlier this year that she has cataracts. They’ve been advancing fast and our vet has stated she has limited vision currently. They expect her to be completely blind within the next year or two. We noticed there was a problem Dec. 2014 when she was beginning to have issues with judging distances (ie – difficulty jumping on the bed, issues with going up/down the stairs, etc). Recently, she’s beginning to run into things around the house – specifically the fridge, doors, and occasionally, walls.
Our other two Min Pins try to aid her but she mainly just lays around the house now. I still take her out in public as my ESA (she can still sniff out my medications and get me the correct bottles, as well as bring me my cell phone to call someone if there’s a problem). I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to keep her as my ESA dog, but I’d like to make her feel more confident and comfortable getting around. She’s done so much for me and I feel terrible that I can’t currently afford to get her a halo. (My medical bills are over $20k right now and my hubby & I are just trying to make ends meet.)
Sara
Carby
Backstory
“Got a frantic call from a Pug owner at a vet up in Stockton, CA, late yesterday afternoon…a concerned citizen found this poor little boy on the street and brought him to the vet. I begged the kind doctor at the clinic to get his eye out right away as it must have been SO painful, and of course, asked for a deep discount. We are naming him “Carby”, after the concerned Pug owner; seems that he must have been attacked because not only did he have the bulging eye but he has puncture marks on his forehead and a lacerated tongue (which was also surgically repaired)”
We are hoping to him a blue Muffin’s Halo to help him navigate into a forever home.”
Jonathan
Pugnation Rescue
Buddy
Backstory
Here is my Buddy aka “BudBud”. He is beginning to get use to his halo but isn’t liking our not so healthy overly dry, dead grass. It sound like walking on glass. So glad we finally got rain in Arkansas. Thank you so much Muffin’s Halo and Second Chance for blind dogs.
We were looking for another Schnauzer as playmate for our Princess. We went to the breeder who had advertised a Schnauzer. When we got to her home, we saw her trying to brush a boy out. We were told that he was no good. He was 8 months old and no one wants one that “old”. She had released him to run loose in the yard/open land to be with 3 large dogs that barely let him eat. Buddy basically got the left overs. We got this “old” 8 month old puppy. Within minutes he had become our Buddy aka “Bud Bud”. This baby wasn’t socialized at all. It took us about 3 years to get him to realize people are really good after all and he didn’t have to gobble the food fast, as if he would never get another bite. Within the first year he was showing signs of seizures. Then signs of heat strokes and passing out episodes if outside for extended periods of time. He started losing his sight in 2014. We don’t care what the breeder says about our Bud Bud. He has been the best little guy a person could ask for, I will do whatever to make his life comfortable and fulfilled. And Bud Bud says “Momma does not allow me on the table except this one photo occasion. And I got a cookie for being a good boy.”
Activity level Very limited to indoor only, occasionally he tries to play in laying down position but will sometimes try to chase noises, outdoor activity is limited to approx. 10 minutes for potty due to heat stroke, seizures and blindness.
“Angel” Frosty Strong
Update
RIP Frosty Strong. ..we are ALL feeling the loss and sadness tonight…you were truly one of a kind and we will never forget you.
Your Blind friend,
Muffin
Xo
Update
Today is an exciting day! My Muffin’s Halo arrived! How do I look? Thank you so much to Second Chances for Blind Dogs for donating a halo to me. I know this… may come as a shock, but my mom is overprotective of me. She is so fearful of me hurting my remaining eye that I don’t get to cruise around the house on my own very often. Since my blindness came on so quickly, I had a hard time “mapping out” my surroundings. When I would bump into things, it would scare Mom that I would hurt my eye & I also became less confident walking around on my own. We are hopeful that my Muffin’s Halo will help both me & my mom
Backstory
We adopted Frosty, a Westie/Jack Russell mix, from South Suburban Humane Society in 2002 when he was 11 months old. He had been rescued from his first owner due to abuse and neglect.
Frosty developed cataracts that came on very quickly in September of 2012. We took him to an ophthalmologist thinking that we would have the cataract surgery done and move on with life. Instead, we learned that he also had progressive retinal atrophy so he didn’t qualify for the cataract surgery. He quickly developed glaucoma that wasn’t able to be controlled with medication. His eye pressure was 4 times the normal pressure and he was in a lot of pain. In December of 2012, he had surgery to remove his left eye and replace it with a prosthetic. By May of 2013, the same surgery was required for his right eye. Unfortunately, a month later he had an ulceration and the prosthetic needed to be removed. We often carry Frosty because we are so fearful of another ulceration to his remaining eye.
On September 26, 2014, Frosty had a cancerous tumor removed from his right front leg. He is currently receiving a series of 21 radiation treatments. We are praying that we will soon hear the words cancer free.
We would love to receive a white angel wings Muffin’s Halo. Thank you for selecting Frosty. I think the halo will give him a little more independence
Bella
Backstory
Bella was dropped off at a kill shelter as a stray. She had no collar on but was wearing a pink bandana. She spent 2 weeks there before we met her while we were pulling dogs for our rescue. She seemed so sweet but we could tell that something wasn’t right. It didn’t take us long to figure out that she was completely blind. The shelter was not yet aware of this. Of course, we knew we had to get her out of there immediately. She is currently in a foster home with someone who is experienced with having a blind dog. Our vet believes that Bella was most likely born blind. In spite of her challenges, she is a happy, playful girl that will be very blessed when she finds her forever home!
Scooby
Backstory
“My name is Sandy Norris and I volunteer for German Shepherd Rescue and Adoption out of Raleigh NC. I was contacted about Scooby, a blind GSD mix who had been dropped off by his owners, at the Davidson County Animal Shelter in Lexington NC.
I went out to meet him and my heart just broke. He was so scared and lost. It became very clear he just wanted to crawl in your lap and feel safe. I ask our intake if we could bring him into our rescue.
Without an open foster home that can handle a large blind dog we could not help. I went out to the shelter the next day and spent more time with Scooby. I took him on a walk in the woods and spent time with him in the room the shelter had designated for him. They did remove him from the kennel floor because he was so stressed out hearing all the barking dogs not knowing they were in kennels.
He has been in his 5×5 room for at least 2 weeks and still can’t get his footing.
I decided to work my tail off to get him out of the shelter and into a foster home. With the go ahead from our Rescue board I made a plea on the shelter page. GSRA would pull him and get him vetted and his heart worms treated if someone would foster him.
A family put in a foster application this week and we are fast tracking the app to make sure it is the right place for Scooby. All of our fosters and adopters have to have a vet check, home visit and agree to take the dogs to our vets for treatment.
We supply everything, vet care, Meds, food, bowls, crates, collars, leash, toys we only ask the fosters to provide love and basic training.
I’m attaching some pics of him at the shelter.
When I saw your organization on FB I thought that Scooby could so benefit from the Halo.
We are a 501c Rescue and the Davidson Shelter is a small county shelter. If you could see it in your heart to donate a Halo to Scooby we all would be forever grateful. If you can’t at this time I understand but I thought someone needs to step up for Scooby so that’s what I’m doing.
Thank you for all the pups you do help.
Www.gsdrescue.org
Sandy mom to Emma, Jake, Junior, Bowtie and many wonderful fosters
For the love of animals
Seeley
Update
“It really is like he knew it makes him special. He is really quite proud of it as you can see from the photos.”
… Johanna
Backstory
I love blind dogs. I learned about them when my 7 yr old Dalmatian developed glaucoma and required having her eyes removed for her comfort. She had lost her vision and the pressures were outrageous. I have glaucoma and at that time there were no vets in the area that could treat her so she saw my own eye doctor…..that was a long time ago… since then I started fostering puppies from the south for a local rescue. I had more than 175 come through in less than 2 years. I loved it. I have loved Dalmatians since 1961. I rescued 3 special needs Dalmatian puppies on my own. I developed a reputation for being really good with puppies and special needs puppies were my love, so I was asked one day if I would like to foster a blind pit bull puppy who was in the pit bull protection program. She was suppose to be euthanized with her blind sister and were secreted out of the state of NC. One look at her, and I knew she was never going to go anywhere, love at first sight. I continued to have the foster puppies in, but I know had 4 large special needs dogs of my own. I was contacted by a person who does rescue in Texas about a 6 week old blind puppy called Puke. Puke’s mother had been thrown over a fence into a nice person’s yard. She gave birth to 3 or 4 puppies. Only one lived, Puke. He was bottle fed and hand raised obviously with love, and when the time came for his eyes to open, it was obvious something was not right. It was clear to them shortly that they would not be able give him what he needed, so they looked for rescue. A friend of a friend of a friend got her to me and my little sanctuary on the coast of Maine. I offer the blind dogs the chance to just be dogs. We have lots of trails through the woods and over dirt roads. That appealed to the people raising Puke, so it was arranged that he should come here. I don’t like calling my dogs names like Puke, would not want a self fulfilling prophecy you know. I have page on Facebook that helps support the sanctuary, and we trotted out a bunch of names and settled on Seeley. I arranged transport, and Seeley came to Maine. He is now a year and a half. In the summer, we all hitch up to leashes and use the paved road. Just to many people. But as soon as school starts again all the tourist leave and we own the whole of Nabby Cove and pleasant beach. We have permission from all the land owners to walk through and check their cottages. Seeley is a very good boy. He minds so well he is allowed off leash. He runs through the woods with my deaf dog Jefferey. Jefferey wears a bell so I can hear him should he ever decide to take off, he is 5 and watches me like he is afraid I might take off. Seeley listens to the bell and runs right off Jefferey’s shoulder. Sometimes Jeff runs him into snow banks or trees so we thought the halo might be a good thing for him. He is named for the character special agent Seeley J. Booth on Bones…. he can sniff out any clue… anyway… since you don’t have a FBI agent suit he would like the quarterback model.
Tomi
Update
“Thank you so much for donating Tomi’s Muffin’s Halo. His halo is the most beautiful thing I have seen on a pet. He’s doing so much better and no longer bumping into objects. He has even started running after his foster brother Tucker the Dachshund. Thank you for helping Tomi.”
Sincerely,
Claudia Ybarra Bordeau
Backstory
Tomi was owner surrender at the high kill Carson animal shelter. After dedicating 14 years of his precious life his owners decided to dump this senior dog off at the shelter.
To make matters worse Tomi is partially blind or completely blind. No dogs should be at the shelter especially senior blind dogs. I made the decision to make and overnight trip from the Bay Area to Los Angeles to rescue Tomi and foster him until we can find him a fur ever loving home. Until then he will be with me and my pack and get the much love he deserves.
I’m grateful to Furball TV for posting videos of shelter dogs in need. It’s because of people like Chris at Furball TV that make it possible for us to see dogs in need and were able to rescue.
I will be taking Tomi to see our dogs veterinarian so Tomi can get a full exam to check his eye sight and a large mass he has under his tail. I will keep everyone updated on Tomi health.
I would like to thank Second Chances For Blind Dogs for donating a much needed Muffin’s Halo, since Tomi crashes into walls and objects. What you do for blind pets is amazing and you help make a difference in pets lives. Thank you all for your support and helping Tomi.
Tilly
Update
Tilly is getting a Muffin’s Halo being paid forward by Mimi Estep in honor of her Beau who recently passed away.
Backstory
“Tilly is my 10 year old shiu tzu who is my little girl and I love to bits, it came to my attention about a month ago one Thursday evening around 10pm when she starting running around disorientated running into walls, doors , my wheelchair and she was so scared bless her, and so was I in fact it was awful .
I took her to the vet the next day and they confirmed her vision had gone and her eyes were just a grey cloud I was guttered , they said that there was a consultant I could go and see to see if there was anything they could do but it was hundreds of pounds just for the consultation , or if I wanted to take another option and put her to sleep then it was my choice … I cried my eyes out at the vet and took my dog home .. I couldn’t even think of putting her to sleep she is healthy in herself she loves the heat in the sunshine and been outside in the garden , and cuddles with her mammy, obviously she won’t go outside for walks anymore but I don’t blame her .. I
do all I can to help her and try and prevent her from bumping into walls
etc but sometimes she still likes to follow me around the house when I am
pottering on instead of just chilling out she has to be with me all the time and causes her to bang into things .
I then seen your product online and I really feel this could make a difference to my dogs life and mine , as you can appreciate been in a wheelchair it’s hard work for my self .. I would greatly appreciate if you
could get back to me and any help is appreciated for me and my girl .. And
to prevent her from any more injury .
Many thanks,
Lisa Hedley in UK
