North Carolina Shelter Dog Blind In One Eye Soon Had Her Foster Mom Questioning What She Saw Outside
A North Carolina rescue dog with a rough past proves that a missing eye won’t stop her from reaching the highest branches in her new backyard.
A Long-Distance Connection
When a sweet dog named Nola arrived from a shelter in North Carolina, her past was a bit of a mystery. She was completely blind in one eye, a condition rescuers suspected might have been caused by previous abuse or a birth defect.
Despite her physical limitations, she still had a heart full of love and a deep curiosity for the world around her.
A couple named Ryan and Vanessa decided to open their home to foster the special-needs pup, hoping to give her a safe place to land. They had no idea that Nola was about to show them just how capable she really was.
At the time Nola joined the family, Ryan was an active-duty Army soldier deployed to Afghanistan. The couple relied on daily phone calls to stay connected across the globe.
Every night, they would catch up on the day’s events, and Vanessa would share updates about their new foster dog.
During one of these routine calls, Vanessa mentioned something completely unexpected. She told Ryan that she had just seen Nola up in a tree.
Catching Her In The Act
The bizarre sightings started one quiet morning when Vanessa looked out into the backyard. She caught the tail end of a strange movement and wondered if the dog had just jumped down from the branches.
At first, Vanessa brushed it off, convincing herself that she was simply seeing things. But a little while later, it happened again.
This time, she was certain of what she saw. Nola was perched high up in the backyard foliage.
When she told Ryan, he understandably didn’t believe her at first. It wasn’t until they finally caught the pup in the act that the reality set in.
Defying Gravity
When Ryan first heard the story, he pictured what most people would imagine. He assumed Nola had just scrambled halfway up a slanted trunk like a typical dog.
The truth turned out to be far more impressive. Nola had developed a highly specific, acrobatic routine to reach her favorite spot.
She would actually use the backyard fence in tandem with the tree to scale her way up.
Once she reached the top, she would set herself up comfortably, looking out over all the neighboring yards.
The Ultimate Neighborhood Watch
Nola’s high-altitude adventures were driven by pure curiosity. She quickly memorized every inch of her own backyard and wanted to know exactly what was happening on the other side of the fence.
Whenever the neighbors were outside, Nola would climb up to her perch to supervise. She was especially interested when visiting dogs came to the house next door.
She would keep going higher and higher just to get a good look at the other pups from above.
The neighbors soon found her antics incredibly entertaining. Even people living five houses down knew about the incredible tree-climbing dog.
A Graceful Descent
Getting up the tree was only half the battle. Surprisingly, Nola proved to be incredibly graceful when it was time to come back down to earth.
She would use the trunk to steady herself, essentially running down the wood before hopping onto the grass.
Despite her missing vision in one eye, she navigated the climb with total confidence. She always did things on her own accord and in her own time.
Double Life Of A Rescue Dog
Nola’s energetic outdoor persona was only one side of her personality. Once she came back inside the house, she completely transformed.
The agile climber would immediately shift into lounge mode. She loved nothing more than relaxing on soft couches and cozy beds.
Still, the call of the wild was never far from her mind. Even while resting indoors, she always seemed to be waiting for her next chance to go outside.
A Very Jealous Sibling
Nola wasn’t the only dog in the house. Ryan and Vanessa had two other dogs, including a young pup named Toby.
Toby watched Nola’s impressive climbing routine and decided he wanted to join in on the fun. He was definitely a little jealous of her special vantage point.
He made numerous attempts to scale the tree just like his big sister. However, his efforts were entirely unsuccessful.
Try as he might, the youngest dog simply couldn’t figure out Nola’s gravity-defying secret.
The Perfect Foster Fail
From the moment she arrived, Nola fit right in with the family. Her quirky personality and resilient spirit captured Ryan and Vanessa’s hearts.
They had originally only planned to foster her, but they soon realized they didn’t stand a chance of letting her go.
They officially adopted Nola, giving the tree-climbing dog a permanent place to call home. Some of their neighbors even joke that Nola is watching their houses while they go on vacation.
For Ryan and Vanessa, seeing a rescue dog overcome her partial blindness to live life so fully is a daily inspiration. They hope Nola’s story encourages others to always take a chance on a shelter animal.
