Karina's Journey: Living and Loving with One Eye

Karina’s story began in the Animal Friends of the Valleys shelter…

Lucky Chi Dog Rescue would go into the shelter each day and see this cute, sweet tan chihuahua being overlooked. After coming back and seeing her still patiently waiting, we knew we had to foster her.

At the Ranch, Karina’s personality really started to shine. She loved to talk and play with the other dogs and finished each day with a cuddle. However, the Ranch was not the end for this gal. We knew she was destined for her own forever home…and her new home couldn’t be more perfect.

Karina’s family has LONG been familiar with Lucky Chi Dog Rescue. In fact, they had adopted one of our original fosters, Lily Pea (pictured on the right), over a decade ago (before we were even officially Lucky Chi Dog Rescue). Once Lily Pea had passed, they adopted not one, but TWO of our Lucky Chi’s - Karina and Emma. But of course these two gals would need a brother to keep them in line, and so entered Peanut into the picture (a rescue from Animal Friends of the Valleys).

Now with a house packed with fur and love (the three chi’s are also siblings with a cat and bunny), this furry family was perfect. Days were filled with playtime, walks and cuddles. That is, until the morning Karina woke up in pain.

It was a Monday morning, and Karina’s parents woke up to a little cry coming from under the covers. They immediately noticed her eye was blue and foggy, and that she was struggling to keep it open.

“You could just tell that it was something, as it literally happened overnight. Not just aging, you just knew something was wrong.”

Her parents were already familiar with Dr. Mike, from Canyon Lake Veterinary Hospital in Lake Elsinore. They knew with his experience with dogs and all of the Lucky Chi fosters, that he would know what to do. Eye drops and medications were prescribed, healing her other eye completely, but Karina’s right eye was no better. Dr. Mike and Karina’s family came to the sad conclusion that due to this onset Glaucoma, she would need her eye removed.

Karina’s surgery was a success as her right eye was removed and replaced with stitches. Although this change took some adjusting, Karina’s siblings huddled around her with support and snuggles as she recovered and weened off of her pain meds.

Not long after surgery, Karina was fully recovered and back to her old self.

“Karina is doing great! She's such a little trooper and the sweetest little girl with the best disposition! She & Emma are back to their playful selves”.

Karina's journey, from a shelter to a loving home and through a challenging surgery, is a testament to the power of resilience, love, and the incredible bonds formed through adoption.