“Crooze on, Croozer”: Blind Elk Grove dog inspires children’s book

ELK GROVE — Croozer, a blind blue heeler, is helping the earth “see” matters from a total new standpoint.

The pup’s tale of resilience now serves as inspiration for a new children’s reserve by creator Peg Sundberg.

Croozer and Sundberg had been in Elk Grove to share their book, “Crooze on, Croozer.” The reserve, prepared from the pup’s viewpoint, normally takes readers via the accurate story of Croozer’s adventures and issues in navigating his blindness.

In January 2020, a 5-yr-old Croozer wandered into a New Mexico landfill. Somebody picked him up and brought him to Amazing Grace Pet Rescue. When he bought to the clinic, he was suffering from serious circumstances in each and every of his eyes.

The rescue teamed up with Doggy is my CoPilot, a nonprofit that transports at-chance animals from overcrowded shelters to adoption centers where loving people are ready.

Croozer landed in Denver, Colo., and started his therapeutic process. He acquired enucleation operation. Each of his eyes ended up eradicated and he moved in with a foster loved ones for rehabilitation.

In March 2020, Suzi Roberts and her family were on the lookout for an addition to their spouse and children. After looking at Croozer’s squinty eyes and huge smile, the household knew the canine was for them.

Nevertheless, the struggles for Croozer ongoing. He came down with Leptospirosis his kidney and liver had been shutting down. Within just the 1st 24 hrs, the Roberts family members experienced exhausted their cost savings on Croozer’s cure. The Roberts were being desperate as they tried using to determine out how to pay the enormous monthly bill coming their way. They used the subsequent day praying for a miracle.

They were referred to Friends of Elk Grove Animal Shelter’s Paws for a Function, a nonprofit dedicated to assisting with emergency and dental funding for animals. The total bill for Croozer’s treatment was all around $10,000. June LaVine, the president of Paws for a Objective, stepped in to make positive the Roberts’ absence of money didn’t determine Croozer’s destiny.

The family’s prayers ended up answered. Croozer was resilient right after four times of an up-and-down struggle, he recovered. He now hikes, performs fetch and gets stomach rubs from his forever spouse and children — and every person his tale touches.

Sundberg is now traveling to educational facilities throughout the region to share Croozer’s story, with the information that the matters that make you unique can usually be your “superpower.”

Sundberg suggests royalties from the book profits will be donated to the nonprofits that collectively saved Croozer.