IT'S good to see you!For tiny Tuftie the world has opened up afresh - with the five-year-old rescued dog now having sight back in both eyes after years of blundering around, hardly able to see her paw in front of her.

IT'S good to see you!

For tiny Tuftie the world has opened up afresh - with the five-year-old rescued dog now having sight back in both eyes after years of blundering around, hardly able to see her paw in front of her.

And the little bichon frise, who had bilateral cataracts in both eyes, is also proving a real winner - with a trophy and rosette to show off after taking part in her first pet show.

Tuftie's owners John and Julie Lowery are thrilled with her progress.

“The first eye operation was a complete success and so we set about raising money for the second operation, for her left eye,” said Mr Lowery, of Oak Close, Felixstowe.

“She has now had the second operation and although it was a little different from the first because they were not able to put an artificial lens in, she is recovering well and her sight is already much improved.

“It is still a little bit fuzzy and she will have to have drops for another month, in the long-term it will be great.

“You can see a real difference in her - the way she really looks at things now and is so much more inquisitive.”

The operations were carried out by vets at the Animal Health Trust.

The couple have to raise £2,300 for the operation and still have some way to go to pay the bill.

Mr Lowery thanked everyone who had helped with fundraising and given to the appeal - especially brother and sister Tyler and Jodi Henderson, who collected money, and customers of Happi Pets who donated, and also the Bichon Friends website members.

“Lots of people have given to the fund and we thank them all on Tuftie's behalf for their wonderful support. People have been marvellous and so kind and we cannot thank them enough,” he said.

“We are still fundraising and we are still going to car boot sales and we will get there.”

Tuftie won first prize in the class for the past and present patients at the Animal Health Trust's gala day and show.

The couple initially gave Tuftie a foster home after an appeal by the charity Many Tears Animal Rescue, and then adopted her.

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