WATCH ABOVE: The 2015 calendar for the Humane Society of Western Montana is out – and on its cover is a dog with a very special story. Andrea Olson on the special bond between Cooper and his owner.
TORONTO – It’s a rare bond between man and dog – made even more special by physical disabilities and a brave pose on the front of a calendar.
Cooper, a two-and-a-half year old pup, was born blind and doesn’t have any eyes. His owner, Ben Mincks, suffers from Diabetes.
“Him being disabled as well and me being disabled, I think we just hold a special bond,” Mincks told NBC reporter Andrea Olson.
But health hasn’t stopped either from living life to the fullest. “We go skateboarding in the summer and he loves the river,” added Mincks. “He’s absolutely obsessed with water.”
Mincks discovered Cooper at the Humane Society of Western Montana (HSWM).
According to Olson, Cooper arrived at the HSWM as a confused puppy who ran in circles and barked at the sky.
“He really is a great example of saving every animal, every time, that with volunteers and donors we can give dogs like Cooper a second chance,” said Humane Society of Western Montana Executive Director Lora O’Connor.
Cooper’s story is such a success, in fact, that he was asked to put on a brave face and announce himself to the world in the HSWM’s 2015 calendar.
Cooper, it seems, doesn’t lament his condition. And neither does his owner.
“Everyone is always like, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry.’ Everyone feels really sorry for him, but in reality, he was born blind and that’s all he knows, and he’s just living proof that you don’t have to have eyes to be happy,” Mincks told NBC.
On top of all his achievements to date, Cooper may soon take on the position of diabetic alert dog for his owner.
“It really gives me hope that anything is possible if this dog can move through this world so confidently,” added Mincks.
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