When a Michigan woman adopted a blind puppy, her other dog had the most heartwarming reaction.
Nugget had been a part of Stacie Elliott’s life for six months before Bubbles the blind beagle came into their lives in 2021. “We’ve had Nugget since the day she was born,” Elliott said.
Nugget was born with swimmer puppy syndrome, a rare developmental disorder where newborn puppies struggle to stand due to weak muscles and tendons in their back legs. “Her back leg muscles didn’t develop so we had to do lots of physical therapy to teach her how to walk,” Elliott said.
With Elliott’s help, Nugget soon found her feet. However, it was only with the arrival of Bubbles that Nugget found her true purpose in life. Bubbles started life as a hunting dog but his eyesight problems made that an impossibility. “He was blind and couldn’t keep up with the pack,” Elliott said.
His original owner offered him up on Facebook to be rehomed to someone. Despite the presence of one young dog in the house already, that someone ended up being Elliott. “I don’t know why but I was drawn to him,” she said. “My plan was to get him treated and rehome him.”
However, that plan went out the window as soon as Bubbles met Nugget. “He was Nugget’s buddy as soon as he walked through the door,” Elliott said. “We couldn’t imagine life without him.”
Dogs love company and while they may be known as man’s best friend, it would appear that fellow dog friends are just as important. In May, a survey of 2,000 dog owners conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Camp Bow Wow found 91 percent of respondents believe it is important for their dog to be socialized with 55 percent claiming that seeing other dogs makes them happier.
Elliott says Bubbles and Nugget have been “inseparable from day one” and enjoy all the kinds of activities you would expect from a pair of pup pals. “They love to play outside, snuggle for naps and go for car rides,” she said.
But it is more than just friendship. From the moment Bubbles came home, Nugget has shown a level of care and understanding for her new canine sibling that borders on the extraordinary. “She does not let him out of her sight,” Elliott said. “Always watching what he does. I always tell people she has more empathy and compassion than most humans.”
Likewise, Bubbles has come to rely on Nugget for help in navigating his day-to-day life. “He doesn’t go far without her,” Elliott said. “When he goes outside he always waits for her to lead the way.” Their exploits together are regularly chronicled on TikTok under the handle @bubblestheblindbeagle.
It’s a remarkable bond and one born out of Nugget’s immediate response to meeting her new dog roommate. Some pups might have been jealous or standoffish. Nugget just saw a new friend in need of help. Elliott is forever thankful for that and, on some level, Bubbles must be too.
“I do not think bubbles would be where he is without her. He definitely relies on her for a lot and when she’s not there it’s me,” Elliott said.
Elliott says “Nugget made Bubbles who he is.” In a way, Bubbles also made Nugget who she is and together they make for a wonderful team.