One-eyed dog has the perfect Halloween costume

Arr, mateys. If you happen to spot a pirate at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary this Halloween, don’t worry. It’s not a shipwrecked sailor or an extra from the next swashbuckling feature film. It’s Eyesha on a quest to find treats.

But long before Eyesha ever donned a pirate hat, the homeless pup came to the Sanctuary in need of care. She had an injured eye, which the Sanctuary’s veterinary team determined needed to be removed to keep her healthy and comfortable. She also was nervous around other dogs and would bark and lunge at them if she deemed they got too close.

No-kill is doing what's right for each individual animal. That means giving pets like Eyesha the extra care or time they need to go to a new home — all while getting to know what makes them special as an individual.

There was certainly no other individual who came to mind when Sanctuary caregivers were sorting through pet Halloween gear and found a pirate costume. “We knew just who we had to try it on,” Best Friends caregiver Anabel Kirk says. It was perfect for Eyesha, the tricolor pooch with an extra adventurous spirit and a signature wink.

While not all pets are comfortable wearing clothing, Eyesha happily went along for the adventure. “She wasn’t fazed at all by putting the costume on,” Anabel says.

11 ways to make Halloween scary good for pets

To celebrate this special sailor and let others see her fun-loving personality, her caregivers set up a photo shoot. Eyesha posed like a captain commanding her very own imaginary ship upon the waves.

But it took more than a costume to help Eyesha truly feel comfortable in her own skin.

After the veterinary team removed Eyesha’s injured eye, she quickly healed and readily adapted to life with one eye. Helping her stay calm around other dogs took a bit longer.

Her caregivers and the Sanctuary’s behavior team worked with her on meeting other dogs while ensuring that she had her own space where she could relax with no other dogs present. Slowly but surely, Eyesha learned that other dogs weren’t so scary after all. And now, she even enjoys the occasional playdate with doggy pals.

She’s also broadened her world through outings and sleepovers with staff and volunteers.

Faces of No-Kill: Pet sleepovers spark second chances

Best Friends caregiver Luke Martin remembers an outing with Eyesha on the trails around the Sanctuary where she took a romp through a creek. There, with the water around her, Luke says, “She was totally in her element, present and calm.”

“Present and calm” could also describe Eyesha’s sleepovers with volunteers. Volunteers can take animals from the Sanctuary on overnight stays in their pet-friendly accommodations. Eyesha loves snuggling up for the evening and being doted on by new friends. And each outing helps her caregivers learn more about her and how she reacts in a home-like environment.

One thing’s for certain about Eyesha: If there’s fun to be had, she’s all paws in.

For Eyesha, an adventure might mean a splash in the water, a sleepover, or a costume photo shoot. For another dog, it might mean exploring a new trail or curling up on the couch for an afternoon. What matters most is that each pet shines as an individual, so they can be matched with families who love them, pirate swagger and all.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.