Hoppy’s new owner Glenis Birch says he’s the perfect addition to the family and their other dog Sam has appointed himself as bodyguard. Glenis says: “He’s a little character and you wouldn’t think he was blind at all, the things he gets up to.” Hoppy, a black Labrador, had a bleak start to life before he was rescued by volunteers in Ireland. He was collected by The Blue Cross and taken to our adoption centre in Tiverton, Devon. No medical treatment, including surgery, could restore Hoppy’s sight so he was put on a training programme to help him learn commands. Staff taught him cue words to prevent him bumping into things and help him cope with being blind.


Everyone was delighted to see Hoppy go off to a new home when Glenis and her family adopted him. Glenis says: “It’s like he’s always been here and we wouldn’t be without him now. “Hoppy and Sam play together and like to have a tug of war with bones and Sam protects him when we’re out. “They’re like partners in crime and they’ll both look at you as if to say ‘it wasn’t me, it was him’. It’s great when they get going.” If you’d like to help animals like Hoppy have a second chance, you can donate online. If you’d like to give an animal a home, visit our animals for adoption pages.