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Please let me
introduce Molly to you!
 She
is a 5 month old Rottie bitch who we have come to admire and love in
a very short space of time. Molly is totally blind in one eye
and has only peripheral vision in the other and possible has some
neurological problems, but what a wonder she is. She came to the
notice of Welfare some 4 weeks ago and due to the circumstances that
surrounded her and already having had two homes previously we
felt that the only chance she would get in life was to be taken into
our care.
On
the initial meeting she appeared to be such a small and pitiful
little puppy and for a few days was very quiet and withdrawn. It
appeared that her Mother jumped into the whelping box and landed on
her head, causing problems to her sight and disfigurement to
her face. Being so small this was not noticed at the time and only
when she grew did this show.
As soon as she came into Welfare she was immediately
fostered with Annie and Chris. It was clear that she required
veterinary treatment so that we could get her assessed for any
neurological damage and her eye problems. She has already had
three visit to the vets and following the story in the Dog World, we
have been very pleased to have received donations from dogs lovers
of all different breeds who have wished Molly every success with her
future. Since this article the Animal Health Trust has offered
us help with her condition and treatment. An appointment has
been made for Molly later in this month for a full assessment of her
problems.
During her
time with Annie and Chris it has been a big learning curve for all.
With understanding of what she can see and how they can help her
found her way around, she is doing very well.
She is
socialising with their three dogs, and is meeting children and lots
of adults.
They have taken advise on how to help her live with her blindness,
by spraying scent around door frames, using the clicker and treats
to train her, getting her used to her name to which she now comes,
and teaching her to play with toys that make funny noise.
Doing all this has meant that she is learning very quickly. She also
has a very helpful playmate in Inca who is a 17mths old Rottie who
is teaching her the rules of dog language.
She has
worked out very well what dog in the household she can take
liberties with and which one she can't.
Annie and Chris have found it fascinating to watch
her develop her skills in doing things that other dogs take for
granted.
They have found that when in a place she is unsure of she has a
particular method of lifting her legs higher than normal in order to
discover where she is going.
She also has worked out how
to play with a ball and other toys, by using her sense of smell.
She also cocks her
head to one side to use the small amount vision that she has in
order to see something she knows is there.
She has become used to
Annie and Chris and is now putting more and more trust in them and
realises that they will look after her and not put her into any
situation that they feel she can not cope with.
We would
like to thank everyone who has offered donations and if you would
like to find out more about her, please give Annie and Chris a ring
on 07905 783886
An update - Molly is now about 12 months old and enjoying life.
It has become clear now that she has no neurological problems.
She has recently had to work out how to find her way around a whole
new house as Annie and Chris moved home. She coped amazingly
well and seems to go from strength to strength. |
