When the 12-year-old Golden retriever named Tao lost his sight due to glaucoma, a sweet and playful puppy kept him company and served as his guide dog. Now, this duo is always together in all their adventures!
Tao, the blind Golden retriever
Tao is a senior Golden retriever with a resilient spirit. According to his owner, Melanie Jackson, the dog was diagnosed with glaucoma last year. The condition progressed rapidly and Tao had to undergo to have his eyes removed.
Despite losing both eyes, Tao remained positive in life. He bounced back on the third day after his surgery and started navigating the house with his other senses. But Melanie thought that Tao could use some company, especially now that he has gone blind.
Melanie started looking for the best buddy for Tao and met an eight-week-old Golden retriever puppy. Melanie introduced the two dogs, and they hit it off instantly! The puppy was named Oko, and he’s been doing an excellent job being Tao’s seeing eye.
Oko, the seeing-eye puppy
Melanie trained Oko herself so that he can be the best guide dog for Tao. Oko was trained to follow Tao’s scent and respond to basic commands like “stop” and “go.” Melanie also taught Tao to follow Oko. Since Oko is a curious and playful puppy, training them both were essential to keep them out of trouble.
Even as a puppy, Oko proves that he can be very useful, especially when it comes to guiding Tao. But beyond that, Oko is Tao’s best friend. They do everything together, whether they’re taking a walk, playing, or sleeping. These two are never apart!
People are always delighted to see Tao and Oko together. They’ve become quite famous after Melanie had set up an Instagram account for them. The pair sweetly indulges when people ask if they can take a selfie with them.
Right now, Tao is living a perfectly happy life, thanks to his loving family. Oko is also having a blast with his new role. These two are indeed a match made in heaven!
Thanks to tao_mr_winky