Willie is a 2-1/2 year old yellow lab who came in to our lives just about 1 year ago. Others in my office were discussing getting dogs at the time and it was contagious. My husband and I also got the “bug” and decided to get another dog who could be a companion for our older, female Black lab, Cheyenne.
I found Willie on Petfinder.com while searching for my favorite breed, the lab. I saw his picture and did a double take. Under medical condition it noted that he was blind. I was very moved to think it would be hard to get him placed, given his blindness. I wondered if we were up to the challenge of training a special needs dog. We decided that we would go see him and take Cheyenne for a “meet and greet”.
The folks at Page County were wonderful and accommodated us coming to see him on a Sunday, even though they were closed. We saw immediately that Willie was a young excitable dog, his energy level in high gear compared to Cheyenne’s low. Cheyenne looked back and forth at us to try to get a read on what was happening. It was a done deal when Willie hiked his leg and “marked” me. That was it, no going back, I was “his territory”. We laugh about that to this day!
As far as the “challenge” of caring for a special needs dog, Willie amazes us with his happy nature and his numerous talents. From the get go, he impressed and confounded us with how quickly he adapted to our house. Our neighbor was convinced that he could see when she saw how well he gets around. Initially, we were concerned how he would navigate the deck stairs going out to the dogs’ yard but he quickly mastered them. Now he takes a running “Super Dog” style leap off of the steps in to the yard. He quickly learned to open the door to get back in the house and now he opens the door at command for my husband when his arms are full!! Willie also bounds through the yard at full gallop often leaping through the air as if he is “jumping for joy”. I watch him and smile. In the American Indian tradition, he is named Willie Shiny Eyes. Depending on the angle, his eyes really do shine. I often describe him as an “angel in a dog suit” for the joy he brings my husband and me.
