Dolly had major spinal surgery a week ago. The seven-year-old black labrador has undergone a major operation, a bone was cut, and the stitches on her back are visible. Fortunately, there is hope that she will make a full recovery and return to guiding her owner in time. We visited our couple at their home in Győr, and the owner, Írisz Sáfrány, spoke in detail about the past difficult months.

“The surgery, which lasted two and a half hours, was preceded by a year and a half of suffering, which started with a pinched nerve in the spine. A series of long treatments, medicines, and injections followed, but nothing helped her, she got worse and worse. She was in serious pain, she did not feel well in her legs, her movements were not adequate, and it was difficult for her to lead. In addition to the X-rays, the foundation had organized an MRI scan for her, which showed that she needed to be operated on because this was the only way to relieve her of long-term suffering.

I was very scared. But perhaps even more so if Dolly falls out of my care because of the spinal disease and will have to retire her because it is very difficult to release a guide dog to a visually impaired person. In my case, after five years, but I think after a few months as well.

It was very nice that Piroska Komondi, the professional head of the foundation, confirmed that it would be best if Dolly were operated on, because even if she had to retire, she would not be in pain, and if she could return to the leading job, she would stay by my side. There is a 99% chance of this, because several foundation dogs have already been operated on with this disease, and a good proportion of them recovered.

I was worried about her, but before she was taken to the operating room, the doctor told me that there was no need to be afraid and that she would be taken care of. Still, I was nervous for the two- and-a-half hours we waited. I calmed down when she was left in the post-operating room and Dolly
was singing, whining so loud that we could hear it in the hallway. I knew then that she was awake, that she had survived. But even then it was not known that she would even get back on her feet. When a lady brought her out of the post-operating room, she had a towel under her belly, they supported her with that, but she came on her own feet. We were happy then, and I knew she wasn’t paralyzed.

Two days after the operation, Dolly woke up well in the morning, balanced, holding her apple plush again, coming and going, carrying it, and no longer crying. I was relieved for the first time that she started on the road to recovery, now it can only get better.

We haven’t been anywhere for a week because of the operation, she’s recovering, but for now, she can only walk on a leash. She can’t lead for six weeks, but she watches my every move. She wanted to come with me, she would put on the harness, and she would even lead me on a leash if it depended on her coming with me. She wants to get back to work.

I am very grateful to the foundation for making the surgery possible. It cost quite a bit, it was half a million forints. If I had to pay for this now, I would not have been able to do it even with the greatest goodwill, and then Dolly’s operation would not have been possible. With this, they contributed to the end of her pain, her recovery, and her return to leading a visually impaired person. I can’t wait to hold her harness again and set off together, just the two of us.”

October is vision awareness month, on the 15th we celebrate International White Cane Safety Day. The Baráthegyi Guide Dog School draws attention to the situation of visually impaired people and guide dogs in Hungary on several topics.