It had been a very hot day, and as the temperatures started to cool down in the early evening we decided to go for a walk along the river. The source of the Hutt River is in the Tararua Ranges and it runs the length of the Hutt Valley, emptying into the sea at Petone. As protection from the risk of flooding, stop banks (levees) have been constructed. These make very popular walkways along the river with people out walking, running, biking, and exercising their dogs. We stopped to watch as a dog owner kept calling out to her Cocker spaniel. “Alex, Alex”, she called loudly, as the dog raced around hither and thither on the grass. His owner told us that Alex was in fact blind. He is only a few years old, and had gone blind very quickly. For a blind dog, he seemed very agile and not at all hindered by his lack of sight.
Alex racing about Alex finally found his way back to his owner, using his sensitive nose to retrace his steps. He eagerly licked our hands as we patted him, and admired this happy little dog. He really enjoys his time running around by the river, she told us. When walking in residential areas he must be kept well under control so that he doesn’t bump into things or get in the way of traffic. Alex is booked in to have cataract surgery shortly. Just how much, we wondered, when we resumed our walk, would the cost of surgery be for a dog? I have had cataract surgery myself, so we are well aware what the private hospitals charge. Best wishes to Alex and his very caring owner for a successful outcome.
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