Charlie is an 11-year-old Golden Retriever who lost his eyes to glaucoma. His new disability didn’t change his happy-go-lucky personality, but Charlie’s parents say he began to move more slowly and stopped playing as much.
But that all changed when Maverick came along! This gorgeous Golden fuzzball is Charlie’s baby brother, best friend, and seeing-eye-pup.
“Charlie has definitely been more playful and puppy-like since Maverick came around,” The dogs’ owner Chelsea Stipe told The Dodo. “We’d buy him toys and he wouldn’t think about playing with them. Now, they’re just constantly playing with each other.”
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Maverick isn’t a real seeing-eye-dog, but he seems to sense that his big bro could use a little guidance from time to time.
“He knows Charlie is different,” Stipe said. “He’ll put toys in front of him. He’s very aware, when Charlie starts to move, to be on the lookout for him. When they walk together, Maverick helps keep Charlie in line.”
The adorable pair are inseparable. When they aren’t playing, they can usually be found snuggled up together somewhere napping.
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“It’s amazing. They’re just such a great combo,” Stipe said. “They’re always together.”
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They even participate in the canine sport of synchronized snacking.
Just when you thought this little family couldn’t get any cuter, Charlie and Maverick added yet another sibling! This one a tiny human!
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Right now the baby is a bit of a bore, but when he or she gets bigger, Charlie and Maverick are going to have all the excitement – and dropped table food – they can stand!
It seems Maverick was just the right medicine to heal Charlie’s body and soul.
“Charlie’s an older dog. We used to think we could lose him any time,” Stipe said. “But now, with Maverick, it’s like he got this jolt in him, this zest for life again. If he had eyes, I know there’d be a twinkle in them.”
H/T to The Dodo
Featured Image via Facebook/WeRateDogs
Toledo, United States.