Stevie the Wonder Dog

CATTLEDOG

• From: Baldwin Park, California

• Adopted: 2018

Stevie's story began in Southern California, where he was discovered by animal control, wandering the streets in a pitiful state. His eyesight had been stolen by glaucoma, and he was enduring excruciating pain.

Thankfully, fate intervened when Linda from Helping Herders Rescue heard about Stevie's plight. She rushed to the San Bernardino shelter to meet him, but there was a crucial missing piece - a foster home. Without hesitation, we stepped up to the challenge, even though we had never cared for a blind dog before. However, a strong faith in the power of love and determination to make things work guided us forward, and it was with Stevie that our faith truly blossomed.

After Stevie was neutered and had both of his eyes removed, we embarked on a nearly 1000-mile round trip in just 24 hours to bring him to safety. The sutures over his eyes made him appear as though he had long eyelashes, but what truly captured our hearts was how quickly Stevie placed his trust in us.

He melted into our arms, becoming an inseparable part of our lives. Instead of fostering him temporarily, we decided to grant Stevie a forever home and be part of the Lucky Ones family.

Cattle dogs are known for their wariness of strangers, but Stevie is different. At the mere mention of his name, his tail starts to wag enthusiastically, and he eagerly approaches, leaning in for affection and belly rubs.

Young visitors are sometimes hesitant to approach Stevie because he looks different and may appear intimidating at first. This presents a valuable opportunity for us to share his remarkable story and teach compassion to the younger generation. Witnessing young children express empathy and understanding for Stevie is a heartwarming testament to the enduring power of love and kindness.