A dog who lost both of his eyes and had to learn how to navigate the world without sight has found a loving new home. Stevie already had one eye missing when he arrived at a rescue centre as a stray.
Vets discovered he had glaucoma, an eye condition caused by fluid building up behind the eye and causing pressure. They took the decision to remove his remaining eye to ease his discomfort and ensure he could live life to the fullest once more.
Following his operation, Stevie was continually bumping into things, which meant he was becoming worried of the world around him. Amy and Jack, two foster carers who work with Battersea Cats & Dog's Home offered to take him home to help the five-year-old adapt to his new lifestyle in a home environment.
They ensured their home was safe for Stevie by removing any obstacles and sharp-edged furniture, as well as giving him plenty of scent and voice signals during play and training. He soon grew in confidence and adjusted to home life in record time, loving nothing more than wriggling himself onto his foster carers' laps for cuddles.
Amy said: “While with us, Stevie transformed from a nervous dog to such a happy and confident character. Once he had developed an understanding of our home, he was strutting around like he owned the place! He was such a good boy and we made so many special memories with him.
"As we travel frequently and have lots of social plans, we cannot commit to a dog permanently, but being a foster carer at Battersea has given us the opportunity to spend time with dogs and meet so many sweet souls who need a second chance. Battersea provides everything from training to food, bedding and poo bags which has been so helpful.
"It’s been incredibly rewarding to see the dogs we’ve fostered grow in confidence and go off to their new homes."
After being in foster care for almost two months, Stevie was ready to find a new home. He now has a loving new owner, who said he is "charismatic and friendly" and loves to explore new places.
For more information about fostering a dog, visit https://www.battersea.org.uk/support-us/fostering
