Editor's note: Please consider making a donation to Jack and Chico's Seeing Eye Fund. Jack and Chico want to "pay it forward" by helping other dogs at MaxFund with vision problems!
You’ll remember Jack and Chico, the middle-aged cattle dogs who came to MaxFund in search of a new and forever home. They spent several months at MaxFund because they needed to be adopted together. Chico has no eyes, and he relies on Jack, his best buddy, to serve as his seeing eye dog. After some wonderful publicity, a lovely family adopted them, and they are living a great life together in their new home!
Because of the circumstances of their arrival at MaxFund, very little was known about Jack and Chico’s previous life together. Now, a close friend of Jack and Chico’s former guardian has come forward to fill in some of the blanks. We are so grateful to her for telling us the story of Jack and Chico. We’re holding aside some of the details to maintain privacy.
Jack and Chico’s previous guardian, M___, went to the doctor one day for a sore hip. Shockingly, the diagnosis was advanced cancer, and M___ passed away in hospice a month later, never seeing her beloved Jack and Chico again. Her primary concern throughout her ordeal was Jack and Chico’s welfare, as she had been devoted to them. Her friend cared for Jack and Chico until M___ passed away.
Jack had been with M___ since puppyhood. Some years ago, after Jack’s other good buddy passed away, M___ found Chico’s photos on the website of another animal shelter. She thought it was cute that both of his eyes seemed to be closed in all of the photos! But when M___ visited Chico, she discovered he actually had no eyes.
Chico had ended up at the shelter because he’d had a serious eye infection that his previous owners left untreated. The shelter refused the owners’ request to euthanize him. Chico received treatment at the shelter, but the infection had progressed too far to save his eyes. M___, though, saw past his disability and looked straight into the heart of this sweet, smart, brave, cuddly boy. She fell in love with him instantly and adopted him.
Jack and Chico were inseparable. Whenever Jack would hear something outside, he would tear through the house and go barreling out the doggie door. Chico was a smart boy who’d quickly learned to use the doggie door with the help of a few hot dog treats! So he would always be hot on the heels of his buddy Jack. Once outside, they would explore the yard together, Jack in the lead and Chico right behind them. Jack and Chico also loved to take walks with M___. M___ would wear a bell on her belt to help Chico maintain his bearings.
So the story of Jack and Chico is a sad and happy one. It’s sad that Chico had such a terrible start, and lost his eyes. But how wonderful that he and Jack and M___ found each other and had a great life together. And it’s tragic that Jack and Chico lost their beloved M___ so suddenly. But thank goodness they ended up in the care of MaxFund, who promised to find them a new and forever home together! And, with the support of the media and all of the kind people around the country who sent their prayers and good wishes, that’s exactly what happened.
As M___’s friend told us, “”M___ would be blown away by all this!”
Huge thanks to M___’s friend for coming forward and filling in the blanks on Jack and Chico’s story, and for loving and caring for them during M___’s ordeal. We would like to think that M___ is looking down on Jack and Chico with a big smile on her face, and the peace of knowing that they are still living a happy life together.
To contribute to Jack and Chico's Seeing Eye Fund, please click here.
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