For Alexa Lee, a 25-year-old veterinarian from the Gold Coast, Australia, her two dogs, Stevie and Bobby, mean the world to her. Bobby, a lively Border Collie, is full of boundless energy, while Stevie, her blind dog, has always faced life with courage and determination. Though Stevie was born without sight, he never let that stop him from enjoying life’s little joys. But there was one experience he had yet to have—a day at the beach.
In February 2021, Alexa decided it was finally time to introduce Stevie to the ocean. She had often thought about taking him before but wasn’t sure how he would handle such an unpredictable environment. The beach is a sensory overload for any dog—the feel of shifting sand, the roar of crashing waves, the salty scent of the ocean in the air. For a blind dog like Stevie, who depends entirely on his other senses to navigate the world, it could be overwhelming.
Still, Alexa knew Stevie deserved the chance to experience it. So, with Bobby by his side, she took Stevie to the shoreline, unsure of what to expect. Would he be nervous? Overwhelmed? Confused?
The moment his paws touched the warm sand, it was as if something inside him clicked. Stevie paused, lifted his nose, and sniffed the salty air, his ears flicking toward the sound of the waves. Then, to Alexa’s delight, he wagged his tail and eagerly took his first steps forward.
As he walked, he felt the sand shift beneath his paws, digging playfully and flinging it into the air. Every new texture, sound, and scent seemed to fill him with excitement. When the cool ocean water finally lapped at his feet, he jumped back in surprise before cautiously stepping forward again, curious about the strange sensation.
With each passing moment, Stevie grew bolder. He ran along the shore, tail high in the air, letting the waves chase him. Though he couldn’t see the water sparkling in the sunlight, he could hear the rhythmic roar of the tide, feel the wind in his fur, and sense the openness of the space around him. In his own way, he was taking it all in.
Alexa watched with happy tears in her eyes. She had worried that Stevie might struggle, but instead, he was experiencing the beach exactly as he needed to—through touch, sound, and smell. His lack of vision didn’t stop him from living fully in the moment.
By the end of the day, Stevie was covered in sand, tired but absolutely content. He may never see the ocean, but he had felt it, embraced it, and loved every second of it.
That day wasn’t just about Stevie’s first trip to the beach—it was a reminder that joy isn’t limited by what we can or cannot see, but by what we allow ourselves to experience.
