Abbey Crawford is a director, actress, award-winning vocalist, and the region’s only trained cabaret singer. She’s been performing in Spokane for over 27 years. Abbey also works as a stylist at The Jewel Box Salon. She’s been doing hair for almost a decade. Abbey is a mama to three teenagers, Mason (19), Amelia (17), and Isaac (15).
I asked Abbey about her first encounter with Stevie Wonder, a dog who’d had both eyes removed. Stevie was being fostered by volunteer Trudy Rogers for SCRAPS, an animal shelter in Spokane, Washington.
Abbey Crawford I first heard about Stevie when he was brought as an on-stage dog for “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” at Spokane Civic Theatre. The script called for a live dog at the end of the show, and Stevie joined us as a practice dog for our Friends and Family night.
I had been looking for a companion for my Dixie for some time. I had some parameters: needs to be small, hypoallergenic, get along with other dogs, and be okay around people, because there are four of us in the family.
First time I met him, I knew he was for me. I put my hand to his nose gently, and he smelled me and licked my hand—that was it!
I’ve known Trudy since I was 19, when I did my first Civic show, “Brigadoon.” I knew that I could trust what she said about [Stevie], and that he had been well loved at her house. I hadn’t known she was a foster, but I was so happy to find out she was.
I told Trudy I was pretty sure I wanted to adopt him, but I wanted to set up a play date with Miss Dixie first. I needed to be sure they got along—and they very much did. We adopted him two days later. There were just zero questions in my mind that he belonged with us.
My kids were immediately ecstatic when I told them about Stevie. The night I met him, I sent pics and explained that he was blind, but that wasn’t even a worry factor. They fell for him the same way I did. He was in like Flynn the moment I introduced him to Dixie and the kids.
He’s fit into our household easily. He learned the layout of the house within the first two days. He recognizes everyone by their smell, of course. He and Dixie are playful and cuddle next to each other. He sleeps with Isaac when the kids are here, and when the kids are not, he sleeps with Dixie and me. We’ve had very few issues because he catches on so quickly to everything.
I take him to potty separately from Dixie, for now, because he’s comfortable in front of the house, but I just got a tandem leash and I’m teaching Dixie to be his “seeing eye dog”—which of course is adorable.
What I found most surprising about a blind dog is that he is not as “special needs” as you would think. He’s actually very able and independent. I don’t think he considers his blindness at all. And that is amazing to me.
His skill set from Trudy’s is that he already learned to navigate, because once his eyesight was gone, he had to adjust and they helped him with that. He learned to sit and wait if he was confused. He is house-trained, and he will come to let you know it’s time to go out.
We’ve been working on not barking at every freaking sound. His hearing is quite sensitive right now, and we live in an apartment house where there are sounds all the time. He’s getting better. I thought I’d be working on the layout of the house, but it turns out he figured that out right away. He is just amazing. He follows right at my heels and is never ever far from me.
Dixie adjusted pretty quickly. I think she’s still a bit jealous, but not badly. She started playing with him right away, and picked up on his blindness right away. She’ll lie down with him. They’ve become pretty good friends. I’m sure it will just get better. She’s not sure about the tandem leash yet, but you can tell she’s willing to learn.
Everyone loves Stevie. He’s sweet and friendly, and when people find out he’s blind, they love him even more. As I said, he doesn’t act blind. It doesn’t stop him. He’s perfect in our household and has easily won our hearts.
His health is perfect. Our veterinarian, Dr. Megan Bauer at Latah Creek Animal Hospital, says he’s very healthy and there are no concerns. Yay!
A typical day for Stevie is lots of walking, playing, and cuddling. He eats in the morning and early evening and, if I have to work, he and Dixie cuddle and play. He is well loved. I don’t know exactly how he came to be at SCRAPS, but I do know whatever happened to him before is ancient history and he is being spoiled beyond imagining now. He has so many people who love him and he’ll never be alone again. He has enriched our lives beyond measure, and I couldn’t be happier that I met him. I feel like the luckiest girl.
Truly, his blindness will never be an issue. He may be considered special-needs, but as I said, he is fully able to do anything.
I love the question of who rescued whom—I may have physically rescued him, but our house is a more joyful place with him there. We are the lucky ones and I thank the stars that he was put into my path.
He is our Wonder Boy.
I asked Trudy Rogers about her fostering experience with Stevie Wonder.
Trudy Rogers Why foster?
Many people ask me “How can you give them up?”
It is never easy—that was especially true in the case of Stevie Wonder. I could have easily foster-failed with him because he was so loving. We really bonded.
Abbey and I have shared the love of theatre since 1992. I was getting help from SCRAPS on helping Stevie with stairs. Angelina mentioned that the show at Spokane Civic Theatre would be using a few of the SCRAPS puppies and dogs in the last scene. I brought Stevie down for rehearsals and Abbey, who played a leading role, fell in love with him. He became her kindred friend. We met to introduce her current doggie to Stevie. I really believe they were all meant to be together.
This is why I foster, for these beautiful moments.
Between you and me and possibly everybody, there is no home better for Stevie than Abbey’s. They love him unconditionally.
The SCRAPS Hope Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) that collects donations through local charity, charitable individuals, and grants to support SCRAPS’ mission of adoption of all healthy adoptable dogs and cats in our community.
The SCRAPS Hope Foundation funds SCRAPS programs such as animal transportation, people and animal training, marketing, medical services, and much more, that allow for 100% adoption of adoptable, healthy dogs and cats.
SCRAPS Hope Foundation is run by a board of local community leaders volunteering their time to this worthwhile foundation.
For general information:
