The Guiding paws - A retired Guide Dog's tale!
Wolfie_Galaxy_012
**will be told in Lottie's Point of View**
Charlotte-known to most as Lottie-was a guide dog with a heart full of purpose and paws trained to navigate the world for her human, Glacier. Glacier, blind since childhood due to Retinoblastoma, relied on Lottie for everything: safety, freedom, confidence. For three years, they were inseparable-more than a team, they were soulmates bound by trust.
But Lottie's career ended abruptly on a day that began with joy.
While playing with a spark of puppy-like excitement, Lottie misjudged her movements around Button, a senior Husky-Labrador cross with little patience left for games. In a moment of startled instinct, Button attacked. The injury to Lottie's leg was severe. Despite every effort to save it, the vets had to amputate.
The loss of her leg meant an early retirement. Lottie could no longer serve as Glacier's guide, and the sudden shift in her role left her adrift. She watched from the sidelines as Glacier learned to walk again-this time, with a new guide dog by her side.
Aphina was young, full of raw energy and inexperience. But Lottie saw in her a familiar flicker-the potential to be great. Though no longer wearing the harness, Lottie found a new calling: guiding the guide. She took Aphina under her wing, teaching her the rhythms of Glacier's life, the silent language of trust, and the quiet strength needed to lead without doubt.
What began as tragedy transformed into a new purpose. Lottie was no longer the eyes for Glacier, but the soul behind the scenes-the mentor, the memory keeper, the quiet presence reminding everyone what true service looks like.
This is a story about resilience, purpose beyond circumstance, and the enduring bond between a guide dog and her person. Even with three legs and a retired harness, Lottie still leads-in a different way, but with the same steady heart.
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Copyright and trigger warnings are inside.