For millions of visually impaired around the world, golden retrievers are not only their best friend but also their eye as guide dogs who help them navigate.
When her 11 year old retriever lost its vision due to a disease, a British owner decided to adopt a guide dog for her puppy.
When her 11 year old Tao became blind due to glaucoma, Melanie from Somerset thought about what she can do for puppy. After much consideration, she decided to welcome Oko, a 16 week old retriever as a helper dog for Tao.
The pair has been proven to be a wonderful match for both the dogs and the owners. Melanie recalled that she could feel Tao was feeling immense pain as the disease suddenly affected its health. She said it was within hours that Tao went from being perfectly fine to needing surgery.
After removing one eye due to the disease, the vet and owner did everything they could to delay the removal of the other eye. Living up to its fame as being one of the smartest pooches, Tao managed to learn a few new tricks that proved necessary for his life without vision.
Melanie said she was extremely happy when Tao adjusted quickly to his new life without using his eyes. From walking confidently without relying on them to generally remaining amiable, the owner said she was proud and happy to be with Tao.
At the same time, she felt like there was something more she could do for her best friend. After considering her options, she decided to adopt Oko – who was then just 8-weeks old – from the breeder she was introduced to Oko. Her decision proved to be masterful.
According to Melanie, the two pooches have formed a strong relationship with each other. Not only do they spend the day together in the yard, but they also sleep together as well. The owner said she is currently training Tao to rely on Oko as a guide dog so he doesn’t hurt himself.
As the adorable relationship between the two dogs grew deeper, more people were drawn to them on Instagram. As of now, Tao’s Instagram account has more than 18,000 followers.
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Replaced!