Ixy, our little blind nine-year-old Shih Tzu boy, is ready to find his forever home. We are looking for a truly special home for a truly special little dog. Thankfully, Ixy doesn't have a long list of requirements. He is a low-maintenance boy whose greatest wish is simply to be loved.

Ixy needs a home where there is someone at home most of the time, with a secure garden where he can safely potter in and out and explore at his own pace. He would enjoy a sunny spot for an afternoon snooze.

Ixy has never lived with another dog but is a very placid natured boy so he could live as an only dog or with another dog similar in personality (calm, placid and gentle). He has never lived with cats. A quiet home where he can chill and relax with his humans. Most of all, he's looking for humans who love cuddles, because cuddles are one of Ixy's favourite things in the world.

While Ixy is blind, he is an incredibly capable little boy. Once he learns the layout of his home, he navigates confidently. He needs people who understand that his blindness is not what defines him and who won't see it as a disability but are happy to except him just the way he is. He is happy to enjoy a short walk, he walks nicely on the lead and is fully house-trained. However, his greatest joy is being close to his people, whether that's pottering around the garden or sitting beside you while you get on with your day or having those special cuddles that he loves so much.

Ixy is the sweetest, kindest, gentlest little soul who asks for very little. He simply wants to be loved by someone who will cherish him, cuddle him and remind him every day just how wonderful he is.

Ixy is carrying a little extra weight, so he'll need a family who can keep the biscuit tin firmly closed and work at getting him to shed a few pounds. Aside from being overweight, he is in good health and has so much love left to give.

We feel that it is finally Ixys time.
Time for comfort.
Time for security.
Time for unconditional love from kind and caring people who will treasure him for the rest of his days.

Ixy is not yet neutered and on our vets advice will not be done until he has lost some of his weight so cannot live with another unsealed female (he will happily live as an only dog anyway). Let's give Ixy his second chance at life.

In compliance with DAFM legislation, the GalwaySPCA unique certificate number is GPT200022C.

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We were asked to help a man who needed to surrender his dog due to a change in circumstances. Wanting to help, we travelled to collect the dog ourselves. We had been told he was a quiet, placid little dog who got on well with everyone. He also wasn't neutered or vaccinated or microchipped.

When we arrived, that certainly seemed true. What we hadn't been told was that this sweet little boy was completely blind. He was sitting quietly in the back garden, with a shed serving as his bedroom. Even when we asked the people handing him over about his eyesight, we were told he wasn't blind. Yet it was immediately obvious that something wasn't right. It wasn't difficult to see that this dog had little, if any, vision.

A few days later, we brought him to our vets for a full health assessment. Although we had been told he was around five or six years old, we believe he may actually be closer to eight or nine. He is also significantly overweight, weighing 17.9kg. Most importantly, the veterinary examination confirmed what we had suspected from the moment we met him: he has no sight at all. The good news is that he is not in any pain. The structures behind his eyes have deteriorated over time, resulting in complete blindness.

Taking in a blind dog is not a problem for us. We have cared for many blind dogs before and they can live wonderful, happy lives. What is frustrating is not being given accurate information. Before collecting him, we had prepared a kennel in our main kennel block, one of the busiest parts of the sanctuary. It is often noisy, with many dogs coming and going throughout the day. That environment would never be suitable for an older, blind dog who was already facing the stress and confusion of losing his home. As soon as he arrived, we had to quickly rearrange several dogs and kennels to ensure he had a quiet, secure space where he could settle safely and begin to find his bearings. Had we known the full story beforehand, those arrangements would have been made in advance.

His name is Ixy and he is an absolutely wonderful little boy. He is affectionate, gentle, and full of love. While we know he was not intentionally cruelly treated it is not good enough and the reality is that he spent most of his days sitting alone in a back garden and his nights sleeping in a shed. Equally concerning is the fact that his blindness appears not to have been properly investigated. At the very least, he deserved a veterinary assessment and a diagnosis. Thankfully, that chapter of his life is now behind him.

Today, Ixy is happily living in our kitchen area, where he enjoys regular company, tea-break cuddles, and lunchtime visits from staff and volunteers. In just a short time, he has already learned the route from the kitchen to the patio and into a small adjoining garden, where he happily potters about and explores with growing confidence. Over the coming days, we'll begin introducing him to our fields, allowing him to discover even more of the world around him.

We see no reason why this lovely boy cannot go on to find a wonderful forever home. For now, our focus is helping him settle, build his confidence, and lose some of that excess weight. One step at a time, Ixy. Welcome to your new beginning, little man!

In compliance with DAFM legislation, the GalwaySPCA unique certificate number is GPT200022C.