Indy - The Blind Sled Dog
The story about Indy, the blind sled dog, is as incredible as it is inspiring. Indy went from aspiring lead dog, through losing sight on both eyes, to learning to use his other senses while fighting his way back into the team.
A Natural Born Talent
Indy besides Wolfie before loosing his sight. Photo: www.raisingyourpaws.com
Indy started racing at an early age and was a natural born talent. He was groomed to become on of the top lead dogs on Frank Moe’s the team. Indy finished the Beargrease Marathon when he was only two years old, making hos a very promising dog for the years to come. Sadly, the misery began during the summer of 2016, when he started losing his sight on one eye. Indy suffered from an inherited condition called lens luxation, meaning a weakness in the threads holding the lens in place inside the eye. Indy gradually lost sight, and had to remove one eye.
“We still ran him, but then he lost his sight in his other eye too. It took him about a year to get used to being totally blind.”
Blinded - But Not Broken
Suddenly, the promising and aspiring lead dog with incredible energy levels, had turned into a blind dog with low capabilities to be out running. According to his owner Frank Moe, he was clearly very sad about staying home when he heard the rest of the team were leaving for the trails. Due to his very high energy level, and other heightened senses, fantasy mushing wasn’t an option.
“We couldn’t just not run him. He was clearly very upset when the other dogs took off for a run”
The blind sled dog Indy together with him owner Frank Moe. Photo: www.raisingyourpaw.com
After many years of training in order for him to get back into the racing flow, including practicing with the older dogs and running in smaller races, Indy is now ready to mush in Beargrease again.
He has been trained as if he was going to race the marathon racing dogs and this, without a question, gave results. According to Moe Indy almost looks as good as he was when he was a two years old, and was one of the best dogs on the team.
“He was happy and wagging his tail. He was ready to go again. It’s like he was saying “Dad, I’m back”.”
Back On Track
Frank Moe, Indy, and seven of his teammates raced the Beargrease 120 in 2020. As the team came in 5th, Indy might not have run in lead, but surely did a great job in the “Wheel” position!
See the heartwarming story about Indy. The aspiring lead dog, which due to a rare disease, tragically went blind on both eyes. Despite losing his sight at a ...
