Rescued Dog from Iran to Undergo Eyelid Surgery in San Diego

Omid, a rescued dog from Iran, is seen smiling to the camera at the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. Courtesy of Helen Woodward Animal Center

RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif.—An abused and orphaned puppy that arrived from Iran at the Helen Woodward Animal Center earlier this month will undergo eyelid surgery on April 4, the center said March 30.

After suffering from an alleged acid attack in Iran, Omid the dog was rescued and brought to the center. A local specialty eye veterinarian will replace the eyelid the dog lost.

Omid, which means “hope” in Farsi, “has begun to receive well-wishes and inquiries on her availability for adoption,” according to a news release.

Omid, a rescued dog from Iran, is seen at the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. Courtesy of Helen Woodward Animal Center

Last week, Helen Woodward Animal Center went public with the story of Omid, “a special dog with a year-long story that wound through cruelty in the streets of Iran, into brave hands of kindness, and onto a plane that took her far across the world to a chance at true happiness.”

San Diego resident Moloud Rabieyousefi told the center about the 14-month-old female shepherd. Rabieyousefi “spent months financially assisting a heroic Iranian woman who took in the severely injured puppy, abused by transients who had poured acid all over her face,” according to Helen Woodward officials.

Because Iran has no laws to protect animals from acts of cruelty “the Iranian woman was desperate to get the dog to the United States and Rabieyousefi spent approximately eight months working with [the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] to do just that,” according to Helen Woodward officials.

A staff is playing with Omid, a rescued dog from Iran, at the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. Courtesy of Helen Woodward Animal Center

Omid has undergone months of medical treatments, but is still recovering from the trauma caused to her face and is unable to close her left eye, which causes discomfort and possible infection.

“We’re incredibly excited for Omid,” said Kendall Schulz, adoption services director at Helen Woodward. “Every time an orphan animal comes through our doors, they become our family. When one of them has been through something this traumatic, we really do all rally around them to help get them that perfect happy ending. We all knew that we would find Omid the perfect family but helping her get a new eyelid was beyond anything we had dreamed.”

According to Helen Woodward officials, the surgery will be complicated and will cost over $5,000.

Those wanting to help with the costs of Omid’s surgery and her recovery care may go to the animal center’s website for more information.