The Resilience of a Tᴏгtսгеԁ Stray – ‘Blind, Beaten, but Still Beautiful’

Maggie, a blind dog, and Millie, a dog with a smashed nose, are living a happy life thanks to the love and care of their owner Kasey Carlin, an animal behaviourist. Kasey, who has dedicated herself to fostering and rehabilitating challenging dogs, has managed to transform the lives of these dogs who have suffered unimaginable cruelty. Maggie and Millie, once terrified and untrusting, have now blossomed into happy and friendly pooches under Kasey’s care.

Although Kasey doesn’t consider herself special, her passion for helping dogs is evident in her work. Her journey began with Mishka, an Alaskan klee kai with severe behavioural issues. Through Mishka, Kasey was led to Angie, a street dog from Beirut who had been brutally abused. Despite initial doubts, Kasey took Angie, renamed her Maggie, into her home and heart. Maggie’s traumatic past, from being used as target practice by children to having her eyes gouged out, serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the atrocities she endured.

Despite the challenges Maggie faces, including nightmares and bullet pellets embedded in her body from her past abuse, she has shown remarkable resilience and forgiveness. Kasey’s dedication to helping Maggie heal and thrive is a testament to the bond between humans and animals, and the power of love to overcome even the most horrific experiences.

“I never expected to fall in love with her,” Kasey admits as she recalls the heartbreaking story of Maggie. It’s hard to fathom the cruelty that some dogs endure in certain countries, where they are seen as nothing more than pests. Despite being bred to be our companions, they often become targets for abuse at a very young age, just like Kasey’s new dog, Millie, who was rescued from Russia.

“We don’t know the full extent of what she went through, but it’s clear she suffered terribly,” Kasey shares. “She was found with bullets lodged in her skull and eye, and her nose was completely shattered. Despite all this, she was still friendly, still fighting to survive.”

Kasey first laid eyes on Millie in a video posted online by rescuers, and it was love at first sight. Determined to bring her to safety, Kasey enlisted the help of Wild At Heart and together they raised the funds needed to bring Millie to a better life. When Millie arrived in January, her face was a mess, but with the help of a specialist vet, she underwent surgery to repair her nose and lost eye.

Luckily, Millie’s spirit was unbroken. From the moment she arrived, she was overflowing with joy and gratitude. “She just wants to be around people and other dogs, wagging her whole body in excitement,” Kasey describes. Both Millie and Maggie, who also suffered a rough start, have found newfound happiness and have become social media sensations with thousands of followers.

Despite the horrors they endured, both dogs now bring joy and comfort to others as therapy dogs, making appearances on TV and even meeting royalty. Their remarkable resilience is a testament to the power of love and kindness in healing even the deepest wounds.

Maggie and Millie, Kasey’s other rescue dog, have gained popularity on Instagram. Kasey now takes care of two foster dogs in addition to her own three, after giving up her doggy daycare business to assist Wild At Heart adopters with post-adoption support. She not only has the necessary qualifications for this role, but also serves as living proof that love and proper training can transform troubled dogs into happy ones.

Her personal dogs and the numerous others she has aided serve as a testament to her success, contradicting internet trolls who criticize her for not euthanizing them. Kasey firmly believes that these dogs deserve a chance at a better life. Her future goal is to establish her own rescue charity, which she plans to name “Wonky Dogs,” reflecting her affection for dogs that may not be perfect but are still deserving of love and compassion.

No matter what challenges these dogs have faced in the past, they will undoubtedly feel fortunate to receive Kasey’s care and attention. Kasey’s book, “The Miraculous Life of Maggie the Wunderdog,” is available for purchase from Mirror Books. To order a copy at a discounted price until September 6th, visit whsmith.co.uk and use the code YOUWUNDER at checkout. Book number: 9781912624928. Further details can be found on whsmith.co.uk/terms.