A sweet dog named Gremlin had gone through so much in her life. The dog was rescued from a life of dog fighting and was adopted by Chris and Mariesa Hughes. As she got older, Gremlin got cataracts. She got eye surgery, but unfortunately, there was a complication, and she lost her eyesight.
Gremlin’s whole demeanor changed when she lost her eyesight. The once happy dog stopped playing with her brothers and seemed depressed.
The worst part about the whole ordeal was that Gremlin would become frightened every time someone walked by her.
“It was awful to see,” Mariesa Hughes told The Dodo. “And it seemed she just started sleeping a lot more.”
Though it was difficult to see Gremlin in such distress, the harsh realities of life as a senior dog were nothing new to the Hugheses.
They are the founders of a senior dog rescue called The Mr. Mo Project, which is based in upstate New York and saves senior dogs who face euthanasia from kill shelters.
The Mr. Mo Project finds temporary or permanent homes across the U.S. for their senior dogs across the U.S. and even pays for all of the medical expenses the dogs may incur over their lifetime.
The Hugheses were determined to find a solution that would bring some comfort to Gremlin’s life and sought help from veterinary ophthalmologist Dr. Petra Lackner.
“I had been wondering what to do Gremmy for a while,” Lackner told The Dodo.
Lackner eventually had come up with a safe and cost-efficient solution.
Since contact lenses for dogs are about $200, she decided to order lenses for humans, which would be a lot less expensive.
Instead of paying $200 a box, the family would now only spend about $20.
“I said I would try anything if it improved her quality of life,” Mariesa Hughes said. “I had many questions, but before Dr. Lackner had time to answer most of them, the contact was in, Gremlin was off of the table and pulling me down the hall!”
There was an immediate and obvious change in Gremlin once those lenses were popped in.
“I think all of us had tears in our eyes when she looked up, as if coming out of a daze, and took off!” Lacker said. “It still gives me goosebumps.”
Since getting her new contact lenses, Gremlin no longer runs into things, doesn’t flinch when someone comes near, and can even find her water bowl without knocking it over.
When Gremlin’s contacts are put in “kisses us, paws at us to pet her. She is happier,” Mariesa Hughes told TODAY.
While contact lenses have been used on pets for years, using human lenses on pets is less prevalent. However, getting those contacts in is no easy task.
“It’s like wrestling an alligator!” Mariesa Hughes says.
However, it’s all worth it when Gremlin happily walks around, not a care in the world. It’s so wonderful to see her happy. If you’d like to help other dogs like Gremlin, consider donating to the Mr. Mo Project.
Check out the video of Gremlin getting her contacts below!
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