No One Believed He’d Survive—Until This Blind Puppy Found the Right Foster
When life feels too full to add one more responsibility, that might be the exact moment a dog needs you most. In early 2020, Rocky Kanaka and his wife Kelly were juggling more than most: she was newly pregnant, Rocky had just undergone heart surgery after a stroke, and they were raising two dogs—Flip, a boxer with lasting effects from distemper, and Zoey, a scrappy little terrier. They were also running The Dog Bakery and working hard to grow their online dog adoption channel. (Watch Kobe’s full video playlist above)
So when Rocky’s friend Tye Friis from Reversed Rescue in Leona Valley, California, called asking for help with a special-needs Cane Corso puppy, logic might’ve said “not now.” But love said otherwise.
An Unwanted Puppy with a Failing Heart
The puppy, Kobe, was in dire condition. Blind, underweight, and born with serious heart defects, he had been taken to a vet to be euthanized. The vet hesitated—Kobe wasn’t in pain and still had a spark in him. But the clock was ticking. If someone didn’t claim him that day, he wouldn’t make it out alive.
Tye’s rescue was at capacity. So he called Rocky.
Rocky and Kelly knew the odds were stacked against Kobe. The vet estimated the pup had only three months to live. But something in Kobe’s spirit—and those big, expressive eyes—convinced them to open their home and hearts.
The First Meeting
They met Tye and Kobe at a pet store and turned the visit into a playful video shoot to raise awareness and supplies for the rescue. Kobe explored the aisles, bumping into things but unfazed, wagging and sniffing with delight. His big floppy ears and soft presence made Rocky think of Disney’s Dumbo—gentle, different, and endearing.
Though technically blind, Kobe’s eyes followed sound and light in such a focused way that Rocky and Kelly were sure some of his vision might be salvageable. They were wrong. A later specialist confirmed that Kobe had optic nerve hypoplasia. His eyes worked, but the nerve connecting them to his brain had never developed. He would never see.
Adopting the Unadoptable
Despite the heavy diagnosis and Kobe’s failing heart—only one side functioned—the couple committed to making his short life full of joy. They raised money for a surgery that could extend his life, matching the donations with their own funds. Vets warned them the odds were low and the costs high, but the community rallied.
Before the surgery, Rocky surprised Kelly with adoption papers. They had vowed not to adopt their fosters so they could keep helping new dogs. But Kobe was different. His condition made transition risky, and emotionally, neither of them could let him go.
So they made it official. Kobe was no longer a foster. He was family.
One Surgery, Two Miracles
The day of Kobe’s operation, he collapsed from exhaustion. At the clinic, staff rushed him inside, and Rocky stood helplessly as CPR began. His heart had stopped.
Miraculously, they revived him. The surgeon, who had warned them not to expect miracles, went straight into emergency surgery. Nine hours later, he called: Kobe had made it through.
It was a success—but whether it would extend his life remained to be seen.
Outliving Expectations
Kobe’s prognosis was six months. But he kept going. And growing.
Today, Kobe is five years old—an extraordinary feat for a giant-breed dog with a broken heart. His heart walls thickened over time, and although his health requires constant management, he wakes up every day full of energy and joy.
He maps the house with his whiskers, listening and sniffing with precision. Visitors often can’t believe he’s blind. But more than that, they can’t believe the resilience of a dog who wasn’t supposed to make it to his first birthday.
Life Lessons from a Blind Dog
Kobe changed everything for Rocky and Kelly. He taught them patience, perspective, and what it really means to live in the moment. In the early days, Rocky—recovering from his own heart surgery—would lie on the floor beside Kobe to calm him. Their heartbeats would sync, and Rocky saw firsthand the healing power of quiet connection.
Though Kobe couldn’t go through formal training because of the stress it would put on his heart, he was so attuned to his family that he needed little instruction. He learned to sit, to navigate, to play gently—and to trust.
Kobe isn’t just surviving. He’s thriving. And through him, Rocky and Kelly became parents—not just to a child, but to an entire philosophy: one of compassion, resilience, and celebrating every moment.
A Forever Promise
They’ve stopped fostering—for now. Kobe needs their full attention. But someday, they’ll open their home to others again. For now, every day with Kobe is a celebration. Whether he’s tasting homemade puppuccinos or navigating corners with expert nose-touches, he’s a daily reminder of what it means to persevere.
Rocky says it best: “Some dogs use their eyes to get your attention. Kobe uses his soul.”
And that, perhaps, is what makes his story unforgettable.
