Melanie Jackson, Tao’s adoptive mother, discovered something was wrong with the dog’s eyes. After a vet checked Tao, he was diagnosed with glaucoma. Tao’s other eye had to be removed 11 months after the doctor advised him to have one eye removed owing to the pressure buildup.

“It started in February 2019 – he had a normal morning, everything was very good. In the evening, he was acting strangely, I felt that he was in the most pain I have ever seen so we took him to the vet. He was constantly scratching his face. The doctor said that Tao had lost his sight” Jackson said.

Jackson was forced to assist Tao in getting better since the pressure was so intense. Soon after Tao had his eye removed, Jackson returned with a new dog to make friends with Tao. Later, Tao’s eyes were replaced with a guide dog named Oko who had been the puppy. Jackson set up a joint Instagram account for Tao and Oko, documenting their daily activities.

Photos of Oko and Tao sleeping, walking, and even eating together can be found on Instagram. Jackson claimed that although while Tao doesn’t cross the fence to be nearer to her, he still likes taking walks and spending time with Oko.