TINY Tuftie has spent most of her life in darkness - bumping into things she could not see.But now thanks to surgery, the five-year-old rescued dog has regained her sight in one eye and is once again enjoying the world around her.

TINY Tuftie has spent most of her life in darkness - bumping into things she could not see.

But now thanks to surgery, the five-year-old rescued dog has regained her sight in one eye and is once again enjoying the world around her.

However, her owners John and Julie Lowery would love their pet to be able to see fully but cannot afford the £2,300 cost of the operation for her left eye.

“The first operation was paid for by a charity and a charity carried out the operation, so it was the lowest price possible and we didn't have to pay,” said Mr Lowery, 58, of Oak Close, Felixstowe.

“We would dearly love Tuftie to have the second operation - we feel she deserves it and it would improve the quality of her life so much. It would be fantastic.

“The first operation has already been brilliant and she can see well out of her right eye and it is improving every day - it will take about six to eight weeks to be perfect.

“But because dogs don't see much sideways, unlike humans, she is still bumping into a few things to her left and she really needs to see out of both eyes.”

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

She had been a breeding bitch but had been abandoned by her owner after she came to the end of her useful life for breeding.

She is believed to have had bilateral cataracts since she was about 18 months old. Many Tears paid for the operation, carried out by the Animal Health Trust as Newmarket, to have an artificial lens put in her eye.

“There are many very genuine and caring breeders who will do anything for their dogs and give them the best of everything,” said Mr Lowery.

“But there are a few unfortunately who use the dogs just to make money and once their season comes to an end they abandon them.

“Tuftie has been confined to a kennel for many years and been blind for much of that time. When she first came to us she was quite confident and soon found out how to get on and off the settee, but now she can find her way around and see things and we just want her to have an even better life.”

Mrs Lowery, 48, said: “She has really come out of her shell and it's wonderful to see - we love her to bits.”

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LET'S get Tuftie her full sight back!

Tonight the Evening Star is launching an appeal to raise the £2,300 needed for the little dog's second eye operation - and you can help.

People, groups or organisations can make donations to the appeal, or hold fundraising events.

Tuftie's owner John Lowery is planning a sponsored walk in aid of his pet and also other events.

If you would like to join in and help give Tuftie her full sight, please contact our Felixstowe editor, Richard Cornwell on 01394 284109, e-mail richard.cornwell@eveningstar.co.uk or drop in and see him at the Evening Star office, 192 Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, IP11 7DU.