Blind dog is active despite handicap

MIDVALE — She steps gingerly off the curb, feeling the ground in front of her with one foot before using it to support her weight. Blind since birth, Pepper doesn't use the aid of a cane or a seeing-eye-dog.

In fact, as a canine herself, the 5-month-old mixed Catahoula/Aussie requires the help of a human who can see.

It's an uncommon disability that few puppies ever experience, wrought with considerable challenges and work for the puppies' care-givers said Dr. Nicole MaClaren, a veterinary ophthalmologist at Eye Care For Animals. But, if blind puppies are cared for well, they can still make great pets and live long happy lives.

Pepper plays and frisks about as actively as any puppy would when she's in an environment she's familiar with, said MacKenzie Madsen, a Midvale resident and a humane society volunteer who takes care of Pepper. But, if she doesn't know the parameters of her environment, Pepper will frequently run into things.

"She doesn't know that she's disabled and other dogs don't seem to know or care either," Madsen said. "They just see that she bonked into the fence again and they seem to say, 'that's all right, that's just Pepper.' "

For being blind, she's very independent, Madsen said. Pepper tries to find her way around by herself and she doesn't whine when she collides with objects.

"She loves to give kisses and to be around people, and that is what is going to make her a really great pet for somebody who's willing to keep up with her needs," Madsen said.

Pepper has bounced back and forth between homes and the Humane Society of Utah since she was born, said Carlene Wells, the society's operations manager. As of Oct. 14 she was still in foster care.

Madsen walked her around on a leash to familiarize her with the house when Pepper first came to live with her, but it wasn't long before Pepper wanted to explore on her own.

"I just took her off the leash and let her bonk into things the first couple of days," Madsen said. "She's a smart cookie; she learns pretty darn quickly."

Now Pepper can even play outside comfortably without a leash as long as she's being watched. But, Madsen has to take more precautions than normal to make sure Pepper stays safe, like making sure the gate to the road is closed and that Pepper doesn't eat the things she picks up.