He is an Australian shepherd dog who navigates the world with fearless joy. When I had two heart attacks, his unwavering devotion helped save me
Luke, a blind Australian shepherd, came to us seven years ago, after we rescued him from a working horse farm. Even though he can’t see, Luke moves around with a fearlessness that is inspiring.
He compensates with his other senses; Luke can smell and hear at an astonishing level, that’s how he notices things. But he also seems to understand that he’s going to run into things and be confused at times. That does not deter him in the slightest.
Luke looks like the classic Australian shepherd – grey, white, brown and black with spots all over. His eyes are getting old and filmy but they have life in them. At home, he knows exactly where everything is and only bumps into things when he gets excited. We try to help by not moving things unnecessarily and by keeping things tidy, so he won’t trip over anything.
Luke is always happy, smiles a lot, and seems to sense when you’re down. He often walks by other dogs without noticing them. Cats can easily outsmart him by sitting still and being quiet. One cat likes to let Luke find him and then the cat moves three feet to the left, and the hunt starts all over again. He tries to herd things and loves getting into the classic shepherd herding position, even though he’s only trying to guide pigeons who land on the lawn.
