Service dogs are like real-life angels that help all kinds of different people with different requirements through their struggles in life. They do everything from providing comfort to those suffering from anxiety, to being guide dogs for people with vision impairments or mobility issues. Service dogs really do it all. But sometimes, they can even prove to be a big help with their fellow canines.
The 11-year-old golden retriever, Charlie, was experiencing a major life adjustment after he had lost his eyes due to glaucoma. His owners, North Carolina-based Chelsea and Adam Stipe quickly noticed the toll it had taken on their normally vivacious pup, who was really struggling to get used to his new normal following the absence of his eyesight. So, in an effort to help their beloved older dog, they started off his New Year with a new friend, a puppy named Maverick in hopes that the new pup would cheer the old one up.
It wasn’t an instant connection at first since Charlie was a little hesitant about getting close to Maverick. However, Maverick soon realized that Charlie was struggling in life.
As Chelsea and Adam said to NBC Philadelphia, “When they would play, Maverick would realize that Charlie would lose the toy sometimes. So Maverick would pick it up and put it back in front of him to re-engage playtime. They almost turn into little sled dogs where they’ll walk together, (too).”
The couple eventually began to call Maverick their “seeing-eye puppy.”
As Chelsea confessed to NBC, “They’re both pretty crazy and special. They’re definitely our entertainment.”
Having Maverick did indeed help to give Charlie a new lease on life, including his ability to learned a few new tricks of his own.
As the family wrote on the dogs’ Instagram account, “Maverick is here to help Charlie around and Charlie is trying to teach Maverick manners.”
The couple went on to explain how Charlie’s eye troubles began a year before Maverick entered his life, when glaucoma caused him to lost his right eye. Then, a year later, the same thing happened to his right eye. And after that, his owners got him his buddy Maverick.
This is Charlie and Maverick. Charlie had his eyes removed due to glaucoma, but then Maverick came along as his little helper. Now they’re doing amazing. Both 14/10 pic.twitter.com/qjkhYLihEO
— WeRateDogs® (@dog_rates) March 18, 2019
Chelsea revealed that she and her husband both emptied their retirement savings in order to pay for all of Charlie’s treatments. And as she explained, it was the easiest decision to make.
She said, “For us, it was a no-brainer, empty our retirement plan to care for this dog because he makes us happy.”
Chelsea further explained how she had always wanted a second dog in the family, and after discovering that she was pregnant, she and her husband made the decision to adopt a puppy in order for their child to get to experience the joy of growing up with a dog. explained that she’s always wanted a second dog, and after becoming pregnant, the couple decided to adopt Maverick so that their child could grow up with a dog.
Regarding all the attention being showed to their Instagram account, Chelsea said, “Everything has just been so positive and loving and I’ve even had people reaching out about their dogs who had glaucoma. It was crazy, it was not what I was expecting.”
