Kelly the blind dog
Blind and elderly Kelly was abandoned in a remote rural area near the town of Deer Lodge. She was found wandering and lost by a woman driving by. The woman kept her for a week while she tried to find the owners, but no one responded. So she took Kelly to the local shelter.
That same day the shelter e-mailed us about Kelly and said, "As soon as we got her we thought that you might be able to take her, as we are not set up for dogs with disabilities like hers." We agreed to take her.
After a brief stay at our vets in Helena for a medical exam, Kelly arrived at the sanctuary. We took extra care with the introductions to the other dogs, given her blindness and age (about 9 years, we think), so it wouldn't be overwhelming.
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Pretty soon she was settled in and enjoying the routine at the ranch. Every morning and evening she would follow us - slowly, step by step, but with real determination - out to the barns and corrals for the daily chores. She especially loved going into the cat house, where she would try and sneak a mouthful of yummy cat food.
Then one day, just a month after arriving, Kelly suddenly became paralyzed. After a week in the hospital with daily rehabilitation from a wonderful vet staff, Kelly regained much of her ability to walk. Her gait is unsteady, she needs help getting up and down steps, and she walks like she's had too many margaritas … but walk she does. Tests done by a veterinary surgeon in Spokane have ruled out disk or other "mechanical" problems, and spinal fluid analysis didn't yield any clues either. As of this date (June 2002), we still don't know what the underlying cause is. More tests may be in store.
Kelly is a dog who hasn't had a lot of breaks in her life, but she's now in a place where she'll get all the love and attention she wants.
Sad update: Kelly died early on Saturday morning, Nov. 9, 2002, in our vet hospital in Helena. She had developed severe pancreatitis, with a sudden onset of symptoms. This sweet dog taught us that a disabled animal can still enjoy life so much. In her case, blindness and difficulty walking did not keep her from looking forward to every new day. She loved rolling on her back in the grass and joining us for (slow) walks around the ranch. Her eyes would shine -- eyes that could not see -- and her face would light up whenever she thought a cookie was nearby. We'll never forget her joyful "cookie look." We have not had the heart to take her off the Web site, for she is still with us very much.
