Isobel the husky might have lost her vision, but that hasn't diminished this sled dog's spirit or love of running. In fact, when she went blind at the age of four and her owners tried to make her into a house pet, she wouldn't have it; she refused to eat or drink until she was able to run once again.
Her owners harness her in with the rest of the dogs, and though she can't see where she's going, she has a whole team to help guide her. Five years after her world went dark, Isabelle continues to pull a sled, and as her owners say on "Today," it's a reminder to the rest of us to "never say never."
Her owners harness her in with the rest of the dogs, and though she can't see where she's going, she has a whole team to help guide her. Five years after her world went dark, Isabelle continues to pull a sled, and as her owners say on "Today," it's a reminder to the rest of us to "never say never."
Related Videos
More Cute Stuff
- Lion Love (Daily Squee)
- This Cat Means Business (I Can Has Cheezburger)
- Zebra Tan! (I Has a Hotdog)
- Cat Guys or Dog Guys? (Petside)
- Reducing your Carbon Paw-Print (Discovery)
Sponsored Links
Advertisement
Time-Lapse Tortoise Noms Salad
And this is one of the many reasons i so love these creatures........amazing dog.......now if only people would pay attention to them.....we all can learn from these amazing animals and our World would be a much better place....GOD BLESS YOU ISABELEE
I have a blind dog...had to remove her eyes because the person who abused her beat her so much. She is now blind 7 yrs and does fine in her fence backyard and in the house. She walks great on a leash too. People think if a pet has an issue put them down....no! She like a blind person has learned her surroundings and functions like a blind human would. She trusts her caretaker. Its a wonderful thing
Animals are such wonderful gifts given to us. My dog Trixie is one of my 3 rescues from New Orleans where I am from and live. Trixie is a 10 year old Katrina rescue who was badly abused and now has a deformity due to it. HOWEVER, you would never know she has one, her spirit and zest for life is absolutely amazing! I only wish others would give these wonderful "disabled" pets aka fury people a chance they can truly change your life only for the better!!! This story makes my heart smile! Go Isabelle!!!
How completely true...If everyone in the world would have the same will power and devotion the possibilities would be endless!!!!
About 15 years ago I adopted an all white Turkish Angora cat with two blue eyes. This 5 year old cat had been left in a box in the shelter's parking lot. I actually had gone to the shelter to make a donation, spotted this cat and immediately was drawn to this fur ball. Having had dogs my entire life -- I'm allergic to cats -- I was amazed that someone would just dump such a beautiful animal. I very quickly discovered that Chance was completely deaf -- a genetic anomaly associated with his blue eyes. This cat was amazing. He followed hand commands and was a marvelous companion for 3 years -- he had FIP and then developed diabetes that was difficult to regulate due to the FIP so he had to be euthanized. I've had several cats since Chance but none compares with the compassion, sensitivity, and courage that Chance displayed in the short time he was in my life.
You go girl!! Good for Isabella!!! She looks like my old Alaskan Malamute. I miss her so much. Beautiful dog.
that just makes my heart smile.
Isobel is an inspiration. She has a will to live like she is suppose to. Lesson learned!
My eyes already got teary-eyed when reading some of this story, and reading your comment, I almost got choked up. This is a great story.
What a Dog....What a Dog.....we couldn't do without em.....you go Big Dog....
We have a 2 year old shih tzu that is blind since birth and you would not know it by her actions. She fits in with our other dogs and knows where her home in the house is as well as the treat closet. People could learn many lessons if they would just listen and watch the animals. Go Isabelle. Go!
Dogs don't feel sorry for themselves and don't want us to feel sorry for them either. That's the beauty of dogs and its' the lesson we should learn, not to feel sorry for oursleves and just get on with life.
ISOBEL MEANS GOD'S BLESSING. IT IS ALSO A SONG BY BJORK.
What a beautiful dog. We went to the top of a glacier to a sled dog camp when we were in Alaska. They live to be sled dogs and I am so happy they kept her and she is still able to sled.
What a wonderful dog. Love my rescue dogs. Being blind does not her incapable of what she loves. What a great story, had tears too.
I too had a blind dog, it did not slow her down. Brandee was the sweetest of goldens She was blind in one eye when I adopted her at 3 and luckily did not lose the sight in her other eye till she was 12 but you would never know it accept when we went swimming. She had to listen carefully when I threw her Kong so she could locate it and swim to get it. We walked daily in the woods and she relied on me and her nose. Dogs adjust quickly to being blind but going deaf is so much harder on them has been my experience with aging dogs.
God bless you all. glad to see that you realize a dog can be handicapped and still remain the most loving and best companion. A pet's love is unconditional. My dog lived for 5 yrs blind and she was amazing. Wishing you many more happy years of companionship and love.
It's so great to be able to read all "positive" comments, w/o a bunch of stupid people putting in a lot of negatives. As someone stated above, "if only people would pay attention, and learn"......kudos to all that said they had a blind pet....also to people that have animals with a leg or paw missing, or take pets that have been abused and tortured.....sometimes I feel like doing the same to those that do that...but then, I'd be on their level. Animals are great, and are a real part of many families. God Bless.
great story, may she have a lone and happy life, inspiration to all
We have a 7-yr-old German Shorthaired Pointer who lost an eye to a sudden onset of glaucoma in 2007 - he didn't miss a beat. Still could spot a squirrel yards away and continued to chase squirrels and rabbits all around the yard. Two years later he lost his other eye to another attack of glaucoma. He amazes everyone who sees him, including all the folks at our vet's office. Except for having to always be on a leash outside, he has just carried on. He still carries his food dish around when he wants to eat (a la Snoopy), and he still sneaks snacks off the kitchen counter. We love him dearly!!! When his total blindness was confirmed, we were devastated. But the vet's technician told us that blind dogs have a remarkable way of coping. And he has proved it!!