News & Entertainment Heartwarming
Blind Dog Recovers from Losing Eyes & Ear to Become Therapy Dog
Lorna Paxton Ladd
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Ah, Maggie the Wunderdog: a lesson in resilience and the art of keeping your tail wagging, no matter what. This pup’s early years in Lebanon were a far cry from a walk in the park. Imagine the toughest times you could face, and Maggie’s probably seen it, done it, and got the T-shirt.
2018 was a turning point. Found in Beirut with a rap sheet of injuries that could make you wince – eyes gone, jaw broken, and more BB gun wounds than you’d care to count. It’s the kind of start in life that would leave most down and out. Not Maggie. Rescued moments before further harm, her spirit was untouched, her tail still wagging.
Enter Kasey Carlin, Maggie’s new human and a dog behaviorist with a heart as big as her new four-legged friend’s courage. Expecting a dog shadowed by her past, Carlin was instead greeted by a beam of sunshine on four legs. Maggie’s first move? A full-body hello hug, the kind that makes you rethink every bad day you thought you had.
Despite a tough start, nightmares and all, Maggie didn’t just bounce back; she soared. Thanks to Carlin’s support, Maggie transformed her zest for life into a mission. Now a therapy dog, she’s spreading joy to seniors and those with memory disorders, showing them the kind of unconditional love only a dog like her can.
But wait, there’s more. Maggie’s also on the frontline of anti-bullying campaigns, teaching kids, police officers, and firefighters about kindness and compassion. If there’s one thing Maggie’s teaching us, it’s that no matter how rough the start, there’s always a chance to turn things around and make a difference. Now that’s a story worth telling.
Taken in by a Lebanon-based rescue organization, Maggie was healed physically and prepared to fly to England, and her new home. Anxiously awaiting her arrival was her soon-to-be mom, Kasey Carlin, a dog behaviorist who had heard about Maggie online through Wild at Heart Foundation.
Expecting to meet a broken, timid dog, Carlin was surprised to find that Maggie was an instant ray of sunshine. “There’s this little blond dog kicking her feet up high…the first thing she does when she meets anybody is she runs into them and rubs her body on them like a cat does. My brain couldn’t even process it. She’s just so friendly,” said Carlin of the first meeting.
Despite her sweet, loving personality, Maggie’s road to recovery has not been easy. According to Carlin, Maggie suffered from terrifying nightmares, and she would wake up to the pup screaming in the middle of the night. While the nightmares have subsided four years on, Maggie’s trauma will undoubtedly impact her life forever.
Carlin credits part of Maggie’s recovery to her love of meeting new people and other dogs and has been able to help Maggie channel that energy into a positive activity they both can participate in.
Today, Maggie is a therapy dog who visits seniors and people with memory disorders, and her regulars absolutely adore her. Maggie is also an anti-bullying activist, who works with her mom to teach police officers, firefighters, and kids about the importance of kindness and love for one another.
If you’d like to see more of Maggie the Wunderdog make sure to check out her Instagram @MaggieTheWunderdog. You can also visit Wunder Dog Rescue to learn how you can adopt or support abused dogs with physical differences.
