She arrived at the Blue Cross rescue centre in Oxfordshire, England, in February.
Her breeder decided to place her after discovering that the little English Cocker Spaniel was blind. He couldn't provide her with the necessary care.
A diagnosis of blindness
At just 5 weeks old and weighing a little over 4 pounds, Lilly was lethargic, withdrawn, and seemed seriously ill. The rescue team was very worried to see Lilly in this state. Fortunately, after two nights on an intravenous drip, the little dog regained her strength.
But the vets found that, whilst her condition had improved, her blindness was permanent. The rescue centre manager decided to take the dog into her own home to offer her a safe environment and appropriate care during her growth.
Appropriate care
In her foster home, Lilly learnt to navigate the world using verbal cues and textured mats. Over time, she gained confidence and eventually scampered freely around the house like any other curious puppy. Outside the house, Lilly initially struggled to adjust to new smells and sounds. But she found comfort and confidence with Lexi, her foster home's dog.
After a few weeks, no one would have guessed she was blind. The Blue Cross team decided that Lilly would thrive best with a calm and patient canine companion in her forever home. Eventually, Lilly was adopted and joined her home with a dog friend called Barry. We wish her all the happiness in the world!
