Blind ring-tailed lemur given a guide dog

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/animal-s-best-friend--a-blind-lemur-gets-help-from-a-dog-after-being-shunned-by-his-family-124722189.html#Eu3cD2 wrote:A blind lemur who was shunned by his family is being lead through life by his very own guide dog.

Stumpy the a ring-tailed lemur used to live in an outdoor enclosure at Porfell Wildlife Park and Sanctuary, near Liskeard, Cornwall.

But he had to be moved after he lost his sight to cataracts and was ostracised by the other lemurs.

He has since been kept indoors for his own safety, at the home of park keepers Joy and John Palmer.

Despite his setback, Stumpy has been kept company and helped around the house by the couple's 14-year-old pet Labrador-Collie Maggie.

Stumpy, now aged 18, has learned to follow the dog around - using the vibrations Maggie makes on the floor as a guide to where to walk.

Joy, who opened the sanctuary with John in 1989, said: 'He gets on with Maggie wonderfully.

'They're very keen on one another and we often find Maggie licking his face or them cuddled up together in the house.

'Maggie's great with him - Stumpy follows her around because he can feel the vibrations of her movements.'

The lemur was named Stumpy after he came to the sanctuary with the end of his tail missing.

He developed cataracts in one eye and began losing his sight in the other leaving him almost completely blind.

The wildlife sanctuary is now appealing for the public to donate cash to pay for a £2,000 operation to help Stumpy see again.

Joy said: 'He got cataracts in his first eye which has manageable but then we noticed a few days ago he was bumping into things.

'It was clear he was losing his sight in the other eye. He's now around 95 per cent blind - we want to try and get this operation done as soon as possible.

'We are afraid to let him outside in case he injures himself.'

The park is home to more than 250 animals, some of which have been neglected, injured or imported illegally.