The story of Hugo the sad, blind dog who went viral on social media appears to have reached a happy conclusion.
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The 10-year-old bulldog's foster carer Nicole Christensen had all but decided to put him up for adoption before she went into hospital a fortnight ago, but then the intensity with which she missed him prompted a change of heart - and mind.
"That was part of the catalyst for adopting him - I missed him so much," she explained.
"When we first got him, he was very growly... But then they worked out that he was in such pain because of the glaucoma."
The glaucoma was badly infected and had spread to both eyes, causing the old dog to hate having his head so much as touched.
Thanks to Central West Animal Rescue's many supporters, Hugo's eyes were removed through a crowd-funded operation, and according to Ms Christensen, the change in the bulldog-cross was instant.
"I cried when he came out (of the vet surgery). He was so happy. Right away, even with the stitches in... he was like a different dog immediately," she said.
"You could see he wasn't in pain and was more comfortable in himself. He's a dream dog."
Ms Christensen had stepped up to foster Hugo in mid-October after several weeks of the Orange-based Central West Animal Rescue pleading for help for someone to care for him. But due to the nature of the photo the pet rescue shared - which showed him tied up in a yard - the old dog was mistaken by many to be aggressive.
But Hugo was not aggressive, just confused, sad and, as his rescuers soon discovered, in quite a lot of pain.
The old dog's circumstances couldn't be more different now.
On Ms Christensen's property outside Bathurst, he has flourished. He's even starting to be accepted by her other dog, a moodle who didn't take too kindly to being continually bumped into and trod on by blind Hugo as he struggled to familiarise himself with his new surroundings.
"(When he first came home) You'd hear this 'bang' in the morning (from outside) and it'd be like, 'oh, he's up,'" Ms Christensen laughed.
"He and I bonded right away. I became his person... He just wants to hug you. He's just a cuddle bear... He's such a good boy. I just adore him.
"I fell in love with him so quickly. He just stole my heart."
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