Most people would easily say that they do whatever they can to care for their dog, regardless of whether it is feeding them, giving them a good place to sleep, or taking care of their medical needs.
Every once in a while, however, we hear about somebody who falls short of the mark and that is what happened in Rancho Santa Fe, California last month.
A dog named Louis, a three-year-old lab and shepherd mix, was taken to the Helen Woodward Animal Center. He had been given up by his former owners and it was for an unbelievable reason.
Louis had developed an eye infection when he was living with his former owners. Helen Woodward made the statement that the dog’s owners decided to have his eyes removed in December rather than paying for the treatment of an infection. After the dog came home and tried to get used to his life without eyes, they decided they would drop him at a shelter.
Not long after the operation took place, Louis was taken to a pound in Calexico because his former owners could not handle having a blind pet. One of the rescue partners of Helen Woodward took Louis and brought him in for care at the animal center.
Louis was not only blind for the first time in his life, but he was also nervous about being around strange places and missed his former family. They also found that he had some untreated injuries, probably from being struck by a car.
According to PEOPLE, Hella Tyler, the director of Helen Woodward Animal Center Adoptions, said, “It is incredibly important that people who consider getting a pet know the obligations they take on with these animals. When people get their pets for free off of Craigslist, they don’t seem to realize that pets come with responsibilities and a monthly expense for their caretaking, including medical care. In turn, these pets will provide their owners with unparalleled love. They pay it back tenfold. It’s just devastating to see an animal treated the way Louis was treated.”
It wasn’t long before Louis was taken from the shelter and put in with a foster home. He is now able to adjust to his life without eyes, thanks to the help of a loving foster family.
At this time, a forever family is being searched for by Helen Woodward. In order to qualify to give Louis a forever home, you would have to live in a one-story home and it would be best if you worked from home as well. Louis continues to adjust to his life without eyes and with a limp due to the old injury.
Louis is “extraordinary,” according to Tyler. Even though he was not well cared for by his former family, he still loves being around people.
Helen Woodward is willing to provide a free training session, dog food, and treats to the family that is willing to care for Louis and give him a forever home. He will be available to be adopted on January 13.