Thursday, March 15, 2012

A Story You Will Not Forget





 Guinness here and I have a very special story to tell you!

 Here is Maggi... and a few days ago we were out for a walk in a field that she knows well.

   You know, when Maggi first came to stay, the humans thought the splorin days were over.  How would a blind dog cope...a blind dog that lived on a 10 foot chain for 4 years.  Certainly she would need a special harness, a custom made walker perhaps? Head gear, special commands, clicker training...  But  Maggi did not want ANY of that.  So badly she wanted to be a normal dog.


 So the humans gave her a chance to try freestyle and have not looked back since.  It is remarkable really...or maybe it is not. Perhaps humans are just so short sighted themselves that they can not think of life beyond their own reality.  Who knows. 

 Maggi just listens for her cues and goes about her business.  A gentle  "Careful Mag, careful" will slow her down to a cautious walk... but a  sharp "CAREFUL MAG CAREFUL" will stop her dead in her tracks.  Any words will work.  It is all in the tone.  So simple.  Mind you, there have been bumps and bumbles--but Maggi has weighed out her risk it seems-- and has opted for freedom.

.
And so now comes the special part of the story.  Maggi LOVES to run.  She loves the freedom of the wind in her face as all dogs do.  Only when Maggi runs, she has to hold back a bit.  She has to keep a sharp ear for quick stops, and she modifies her run-- kicking out with her front legs first in order to protect her face.

But not this time boy oh boy!  Maggi got a strange look in her eyes...as if she was calculating something in her head...and she RAN.   She took her chanceLike a glorious bird in flight she RAN...with her head strained forward and feet tearing up the ground beneath her.  She ran like a hound on the hunt--with the joy of life upon her face.  Our jaws dropped--one quick picture and the camera was forgotten--for what a sight to witness.

 What ever risk Maggi must have weighed out in her mind it was worth it for her.  And you know...for so long the humans felt so sorry for Maggi, that she was blind and could not see.  But it is not important that Maggi is blind.  It is instead important that she lives to have many, many more moments like this one.

And here she is everyone--Maggi--taking her Blind Leap of Faith.

23 comments:

  1. What a beautiful post! Tears in Mom's eyes and a huge smile on her face. You rock, Maggi!!! And you have a super duper family to let you take that leap.

    Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning

    ReplyDelete
  2. I got chills and tears. We could all learn a lesson from her.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for sharing such a special moment with your beautiful and special girl. She is so lucky to have found you for a family and you are blessed to have her. I too am tearing up reading this story.

    Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  4. oh wow you have brought on the tears here but i have'nt seen my mommish smile so big in such a long time so THANK you. THANK YOU MAGGIE! you are so beautiful and special

    pibble sugars
    the pittie pack

    ReplyDelete
  5. That's beautiful. SHE worked with blind children for many years. It's said that blind children are not 6 cylinder kids firing on only 5 cylinders; but rather 5 cylinder kids firing on all 5 cylinders. guess it's the same with dogs.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

    ReplyDelete
  6. wonderful ! kudos to the humans who let her be who she is and kudos to her for not letting her sight bother her ! i wouldn't have known!

    ReplyDelete
  7. A beautiful story about a beautiful,loving dog and my equally beautiful and caring daughter.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hey Maggi!
    Wow, what an amazing post! I really often forget that you are blind. Honestly, I just forget. Obviously you does too...and you live a super-happy life on your own terms. I'm so glad for you and you're an inspiration fur sure! That zoomie pix of you is wonderful. Go girl!!
    Grr and Woof,
    Sarge, COP

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oops, I meant "do" not "does". Pththtthhtt... typing faster than I'm thinking. BOL.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Any dog in an open free run like this is beautiful but knowing that Maggie is "sight challenged" makes it 100% more beautiful! What a happy girl!

    mamma heartbeat

    ReplyDelete
  11. Awesome story. Could you email me? We have talked before about Maggie on the IW international forum.

    Brad , (from Saskatchewan)
    ptkennel@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. You rock Ms. Maggi. Thanks for teaching humans a lesson
    Benny & Lily

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a wonderful happy making story. Miss Maggi is so lucky to be in a good home where she can be free to live her life to the fullest.

    Slobbers,
    Mango

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thank goodness Maggie found the two of you! The first video of Maggie running (looked like on a lake) soon after she came into your lives, made me cry for joy! She was finally able to be a normal dog! Thank you for giving a life she could once only dream of...

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thank you for believing in this absolutely magnificent creature. As her foster, I too was concerned about how to "help" a blind dog. While waiting for her arrival I worked with my dogs' trainer to put a plan together to ensure she was as capable as possible. The Marvellous Miss M. didn't need much of anything. She showed us in very short order that she could manage very well indeed. She left me with a several very reminders about life. I never got a picture of her running because I was too awestruck at the sight of it to think to snap one. Thank you for providing her the opportunity to realize her full potential and thank you for continuing to share her amazing story. Her counter-part Molli, who goes by the name Rennaisance (Ren) stayed with us & is enjoying the same level of joy in her liberation from that nightmare of an existence they were forced to share.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow. Tears in my eyes. Very emotional. What an amazing story. Thank you for sharing. Maggi is truly a gift and an inspiration. Thank you Maggi, for being so brave and so strong. You are incredible and beautiful!

    Suka and K

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wonderful story. I wonder if a lot of us humans tend to go through life as if we were blind... cautious, afraid, holding back a bit... but Old Maggie shows us how to go through life--with gusto!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a wonderful story. The picture of her running is so sweet, she looks so happy. Maggi is such a special girl.

    ReplyDelete
  19. You are right! I will not forget this beautiful story.

    ReplyDelete
  20. She was born to run and run she will! Yay, Mags, we are all so proud of you and so much in love with you and Guinness! I'd like to borrow a little from Gramps letter and give a cheer for the woman who knows just what to do with these beautiful dogs. So thanks, Janice, for sharing them with us.

    Hugs and cheers,

    Jo, Stella and Zkhat

    ReplyDelete
  21. Yea! You go Maggie girl! She is so lucky to have found her forever home where she can do what she is supposed to do!

    Woofs!

    Baylor

    ReplyDelete
  22. What an awesome story! Way to go Maggi!

    Sam and Pippen

    ReplyDelete