Blind golden oldie Tim was rescued by the RSPCA in Wales at the age of 11 and given a temporary home by Sally Humphries, who didn’t initially plan to adopt. But some dogs can be simply irresistible, right? After getting to know Tim and falling in love with his ‘cheeky personality’, his foster mama happily offered him a forever home.
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'Young at heart'
Little West Highland White Terrier Tim arrived at the RSPCA’s animal centre after his elderly owner was no longer able to care for him.
The pooch was in poor condition. As well as sight loss, Tim had an ear infection, sore skin and a severely matted coat, which had to be shaved in places.
But despite the disability and health issues, Tim quickly showed everyone at the animal centre that he was ‘young at heart’ and had a lot to offer to a potential owner.
Getting used to his temporary home ...
The unique dog was given a temporary home by Sally Humphries, a kennel team leader at the animal centre. She already had a pet - a rescue dog Lady - and wasn’t planning to adopt.
The foster mama did everything in her power to make Tim feel at home and comfortable regardless of his disability.
She kicked off his stay with guided laps around the house to familiarise him with the space. A camera was set up to monitor how he was coping.
Sally even taught Tim the reward-based clicker training, where a clicker was used to tell him if he had done the right thing. As a result, he learned to respond to his name and instructions such as, 'sit', 'lie,' 'step up' and 'step down', proving that age is never a limit for a clever pooch.
... and making it permanent thanks to his adorable cheeky nature
Sally was surprised by Tim's eagerness to learn and his 'zest for life'. She also saw that his blindness wasn't holding him back. He loved going for walks, sniffing, and climbing on things just like any other dog.
Sally said:
He's definitely young at heart and I've had to be quite fit to keep up with him!
Over time, Tim's cheeky personality started to show more and more too. He was even seen stealing food from the fridge when Sally wasn't looking!
The foster mama felt completely won over by this one-of-a-kind pooch. She decided to give him a forever home.
Sally added:
He's a wonderful company and a great example of how an older dog with a disability has so much to give and get out of life.
Head to RSPCA's website to learn more about the charity and support their vital animal welfare and rescue work.
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