[New post] The Bodhi Chronicles: Bodhi’s Gotcha Day
derrycats posted: " Six years ago today we adopted Bodhi, who is one of the world's very best dogs. We had never had a blind dog before, so Bodhi was our teacher in many ways, but since he was at least four years old at the time, and had been blind for life, he knew his way" The Blessing of Animal Companions
Six years ago today we adopted Bodhi, who is one of the world's very best dogs. We had never had a blind dog before, so Bodhi was our teacher in many ways, but since he was at least four years old at the time, and had been blind for life, he knew his way around the blind world, and made it easy for us to learn how best to help him.
When we first adopted Bodhi he knew how to be blind, but didn't know how to be a dog. It was clear he had spent his first four years doing absolutely nothing, and we had to spend about six months teaching him how to use his nose on walks, how to walk well with us, how to go places - any place - and not be completely overwhelmed at the opportunity to do absolutely anything at all. Once he started understanding that he could go places, do things, be a part of the world, he was overjoyed and such an amazing companion. He went on a few trips with us to Stone Harbor and discovered the ocean, which he loved.
Bodhi is daddy's dog most especially. He and Marley have a very deep bond. Bodhi isn't a very well dog these days, dealing with progressive neuropathy, which means that his muscles are wasting little by little He can't go upstairs to the bedroom anymore, so we bought a mattress for Marley and he and Bodhi sleep in the living room now. Bodhi simply couldn't manage sleeping without Marley, and it was easy to solve that problem.
Bodhi has had a lot of health issues over the last year or so. He developed glaucoma and had to have two emergency surgeries to have his eyeballs removed. He ate a penny on a walk, and it wouldn't come out, so yet another surgery. And now the neuropathy. Getting old, as they say, isn't for sissies. And he is slower these days, going for fewer walks and sleeping a lot, but his quality of life is still okay. And his appetite hasn't suffered at all!
We know his days are somewhat numbered, though no one really knows or wants to predict how long that might be. For now, we will just celebrate his 6th Gotcha Day and be grateful for his presence in our home. For Christmas a year or so ago I had a portrait made from one of my photos of him, done by Andy's Paw Prints. It is one of my favorite pictures of Bodhi, and sits happily on our mantle for all to see.
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