Dogs Totally Lose It Because Owner Comes Home After Week Away

Jul 09, 2020 by apost team

In 2019, Christine Bray took a video of her dog Opal sensing when her husband Forrest Bray comes home after a week. In the video, Opal sticks her nose in the air and begins to wag her tail as Forrest gets out of his truck. By the time he walks into the yard, Opal is barking and jumping, clearly excited to greet her human dad.

Adopting a blind and deaf dog can be challenging. It can't play fetch in the traditional sense and can't respond to verbal commands. However, dogs like Opal, a double merle, have what matters most; love. When Christine and Forrest Bray of Spokane Valley in Washington adopted Opal, then only four-months-old, they understood the challenges and were more than willing to give her the love she needs to thrive.

The Australian shepherd mix has particularly bonded with her dad and has been known to recognize her dad's truck's vibrations when he gets home from work. In the viral video, Christine films as Forrest returns home from a trip. Their other dog, Pearl, who is also deaf, runs to greet her mom enthusiastically. However, she is quickly overshadowed by Opal greeting Forrest.

apost.com

According to Washington Post, Opal is not only deaf, but she is also blind, a genetic side effect of breeding two merle dogs. Instead of creating the unique marbled merle coat, breeding two dogs with the coat pattern removes the pigment entirely. When this happens, dogs can be born blind, deaf, or both. This is an unfortunate side effect of uneducated, new breeders trying to breed and sell puppies. As a result, these puppies tend to not be adopted, meaning they end up at rescues or in shelters. It is a problem that is completely avoidable, but all too common.

Although Opal can't see or hear Forrest, it is clear that she doesn't need those abilities to know that her dad is home. Immediately upon picking up his scent, Opal becomes excited, shaking her butt with her nose in the air. It's clear from the moment that she senses her dad, Opal is ecstatic to have him home. She happily hops into her dad's arms and greets him with all of her love and affection, proving that she is happy the way she is.

After a few seconds of greeting dad, Christine approaches Opal. Once Opal senses her mom nearby, she bowls her over with affection as her mom laughs. It is a heartwarming moment, caught on camera. It is clear that despite Opal's disabilities, she is just like any other dog. She proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is more than capable of having a happy life with someone willing to take a chance on her.

Christine has posted videos to Opal's Instagram of her greeting Forrest as he comes home from work. As soon as his truck gets close, she sniffs the air. This is because Opal uses her sense of smell and touch like most dogs use their eyes and ears. The vibration of her dad's truck and the smell of its emissions are familiar to her. Once she realizes that Forrest is home, she happily dances in the yard. Sensing her dad is not the only thing that she is capable of. Opal can play fetch by tracking the ball's scent and vibrations. She has also memorized where items are in the home and rarely runs into anything unless it has been moved.

Opal doesn't know that she's different. That's something the Brays want their daughter, Lily to witness as she grows up. They want her to understand that her dog is different, but that isn't a bad thing. In fact, they have been impressed with how much calmer and more gentle Opal is when she's around Lily. They note that she can quickly shift from very excited to calm upon recognizing the baby's scent.

Despite Opal's physical disabilities, she is not disabled. She has adjusted to her circumstances, not knowing that she is different from any other dog. The bond she has developed with her family is a beautiful one. She challenges us to not let things that we have no control over to stand in the way of what we want in life. It's clear that Opal is a happy and healthy dog that loves life and her family.

What do you think of Opal's story? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this along!