This is such an endearing story about a blind dog with a debilitating seizure who gets a second chance after its original owner passed away.

Tanner was a golden retriever who suffered from blindness and seizures; Blair was a homeless pup who had been shot. Now, the two are best buddies — and they're helping each other cope. A veterinarian says the two were playing together at an Oklahoma animal hospital when "Blair all of a sudden seemed to realize that Tanner was blind and just started to help him around." Not only does Tanner now have a guide dog; his seizures have also gotten less frequent, and the shy Blair is becoming more friendly.

This is a story of what true friendship and unconditional love are all about.

I wrote to the rescue group that works with these dogs asking if seizure meds or cataract surgery would help Tanner's condition. They wrote back the following:

Dear Mr. Robertson:

 Thank you for inquiring about Tanner’s health. While the story that has made the rounds on the Internet is factual as far as it goes, it doesn’t give a complete picture of Tanner’s medical history. Tanner is one of a litter of puppies delivered by a pregnant female Golden a few days after she entered our program at Sooner Golden Retriever Rescue. Several of the puppies in this litter displayed some congenital abnormalities including microphthalmia/cataracts, and neurologic defects resulting in seizures. All have been placed in loving adoptive homes – including Tanner – but unfortunately, Tanner’s first adoptive Dad passed away about a year after the adoption was complete and Tanner was returned to SGRR to be placed again, as required by our adoption contract.

 Tanner is under the care of several well qualified veterinarians and is on both Phenobarbital and Potassium Bromide to help control his seizures – unfortunately with only moderate success. The frequency of his seizures has been slowed, but they have not been eliminated. Tanner’s veterinary team continues to explore options to better control his seizures.

 Tanner has also been seen by a veterinary specialist who is board certified in veterinary ophthalmology for his vision issues. Unfortunately, in addition to the cataracts, Tanner suffers from microphthalmia which is a condition where his eyes are much smaller than normal. There is no treatment for microphthalmia and surgery to remove the cataracts in both eyes would do nothing to restore Tanner’s vision.

 Please be assured that both Tanner and Blair are receiving top quality veterinary care and we are working diligently to evaluate all the recent offers to adopt them so that we can place them both in the best possible “forever home.”

 Thanks for your interest and we hope we’ve been able to answer your questions to your satisfaction.

 Best Regards,

 Sooner Golden Retriever Rescue

adoptions@sgrr.org

405-749-5700