Bertie the Rescue Dog Gets His Sight Back

Rescue dog Bertie has been through some tough times, but things are finally going well thanks to the care he has received from Staffordshire Bull Terrier Rescue and the Animal Health Trust.

Bertie with Claudia Hartley.
Photo: Animal Health Trust

When Bertie arrived at the Animal Health Trust he was at risk of going completely blind. Bertie needed cataract operations on both eyes but sadly didn’t get all the treatment he needed in the past. Now, under the care of Staffordshire Bull Terrier Rescue (SBTR) in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, Bertie is finally receiving the treatment, love and care he deserves.

Claudia Hartley, Head of Ophthalmology at the Animal Health Trust, said: “I’m so glad we’ve been able to help give Bertie a brighter future. He’s such a sweet boy, full of love – I’d adopt him if I could! But when Bertie came to the AHT his case was very serious and he was at risk of going completely blind within weeks.

“A previous cataract operation on his left eye had been unsuccessful. The retina was completely detached and he was most likely in a lot of pain due to glaucoma. Unfortunately, there was nothing we could do to save the left eye, so we decided to operate to remove that eye and focus our efforts on saving his other eye.

Bertie with Claudia Hartley.
Photo: Animal Health Trust

“Cataract surgery was then performed on the right eye, which had never had any treatment and had extremely limited vision. Thankfully, this operation was a success and Bertie now has a new lease of life!

“I’m really pleased with his progress and that he is now living a much happier, pain-free life. He’s a real treasure and I hope he’ll find a loving family of his own soon.”

Bertie is now looking for his forever home, but not before leaving a legacy behind him in Bertie’s Mission. Bertie’s Mission has been set up to help the Animal Health Trust help more animals like Bertie through its veterinary work and research and has already raised a staggering £5,000 to help prevent other animals from losing their sight.

Photo: Animal Health Trust

Staffordshire Bull Terrier Rescue said: “They (the Animal Health Trust) gave him his vision back, took away his pain and gave him a quality of life which was cruelly denied him before. Therefore, we wanted to do something in return to help the Animal Health Trust help other animals. That’s how Bertie’s Mission was started and we’re thrilled at the response we’ve had so far, but there’s more we can do.”

If you would like to support Bertie’s Mission you can find out more by clicking here.

If you live in East Anglia and think you could provide a suitable home for Bertie (or you know someone who does and could), please contact Staffordshire Bull Terrier Rescue in Wisbech for more details. Bertie is good with children of all ages but needs to be the only dog in a household without any cats.

For more info on the Animal Health Trust please visit their website.