Blind, Not Broken

They Can't See You, But They'll Love You Anyway

At Pug Rescue of Austin, one of the most common injuries we see in dogs coming into our rescue is eye injuries. Sometimes we're able to save the eye, but oftentimes it has to be surgically removed.

Those big, adorable brown pug eyes we all love are much more vulnerable to injury because pugs have prominent eyes with shallow eye sockets, making them more exposed to injury, dryness, and corneal damage.

For this reason, we often have blind or visually impaired dogs looking for their forever homes. Sadly, they're often overlooked because people worry they'll be difficult to care for or require specialized care.

After caring for countless blind dogs, we can confidently say that's simply not the case.

These dogs live full, happy, normal lives.

Sure, there are a few common-sense things you'll want to do if you have a blind dog, like making sure there aren't sharp or pokey things at their eye level that they might run into. But let's be real... if you have any dog, that's probably a good idea.

If you have stairs, a baby gate can help while they learn the layout of your home. But many blind dogs go up and down stairs on their own. They quickly learn your house and yard, find the couch, jump up, and get back down by themselves. What they can do usually has far more to do with their age and overall health than with their vision.

They still love walks. They still love playing with other dogs, although they're admittedly at a bit of a disadvantage when it comes to fetch. Then again, with the right squeaky ball and enough enthusiasm, even that's possible.

They're every bit as loyal, loving, goofy, and wonderful as any other dog. They may even be better cuddlers, since touch becomes such an important part of how they experience the world.

Dogs are incredible in how well they adapt.

Now the real question is... can you?

Would you be willing to open your heart and home to a blind dog?

Nashville, Cheerio, Potato, and Granny are a few of our current pugs with less-than-perfect vision who are looking for their forever homes. They may never see your face, but they'll know your heart. Click here for pugs currently available for adoption.