One-Eyed Ursula, The Chihuahua-Jack Russell Mix

She may be tiny but she has a larger-than-life personality. Oh, and only one eye — but she doesn’t let that stop her from being the spunkiest pup in the room. We’re talking about Ursula, a five-year-old Chihuahua-Jack Russell mix, who is equal parts bold and loving.

“She radiates joy and positive energy, and has more confidence than any other creature we know,” say her dads, Walker and Rory, who live in Toronto. “Her sweet, fun-loving personality wins most people over instantly.”

Ursula has completely adjusted to life with one eye and has grown leaps and bounds since she was first adopted. The doggy dads also took in Rosie, the Calico Cat, and Watson, the Teacup Chihuahua (their newest rescue). They have a full house, and even fuller hearts. 

Dog Whisperer HQ: Where was Ursula rescued from and what's the story behind that?

Rory: Walker was living in Los Angeles and met Ursula at a mall in the area. She was there with some volunteers and other pups from her rescue to generate interest in adoption. Walker hadn’t been planning on adopting a dog, but was so drawn to her that he contacted the rescue within minutes of meeting her. 

DW: What happened to Ursula's eye and how has she recovered from that?

Walker: We don’t know too much about Ursula’s backstory. Somehow, she ended up in a pound in Orange County with a visible eye injury. She was under a year old at the time. From there, she was transferred to a rescue center that had a program for homeless dogs with medical needs. It turned out she had a ruptured corneal ulcer and her eye had to be removed. I met her after she had healed from surgery. She’s completely adapted to life with one eye and gets around just fine!

“She ended up in a pound in Orange County with a visible eye injury. She was under a year old at the time. From there, she was transferred to a rescue center that had a program for homeless dogs with medical needs. It turned out she had a ruptured corneal ulcer and her eye had to be removed. I met her after she had healed from surgery. She’s completely adapted to life with one eye and gets around just fine!”

DW: How has Ursula grown — physically, mentally and emotionally — since you first brought her home:

R&W: She’s a very adaptable dog, so she transitioned to life in her new home easily. The move from California to Canada was a bit of a challenge for her, though. The winters have definitely been an adjustment! We had some regular behavioral issues when she was younger — mainly potty accidents and chewing furniture and clothes. She’s a smart girl (too smart sometimes!) and very treat-motivated, so she learned quickly with training. 

We’ve really seen her grow and mature since we adopted Watson about six months ago. She was jealous and resentful of him at first, but they’ve become so close and she’s taken on a protective big sister role. She’s so patient and gentle with him. It’s been beautiful to see their bond develop.

Ursula with her dads!

DW: What are some of Ursula's favorite activities?

R&W: Snacking! Food is her #1 passion. She’ll literally eat anything, but her faves are chicken and green apples. She’s also still a California girl at heart and just loves being outside in the summers. She would sunbathe for hours if we let her! Her other hobbies include zoomies (running around in circles), snuggling and playing with her favorite toy, a stuffed avocado.

DW: How does Ursula interact with other dogs? How about other people?

R&W: She’s super awkward around bigger dogs! She gets along well with dogs her size or smaller, so size was a big factor when we started looking for a second dog. With humans, she’s quite the social butterfly. Everyone she meets is an instant BFF.

DW: What is your bond with Ursula like?

R&W: Our bond with her is very special. Walker and Ursula have been tight from day one, and it was love at first sight when Rory met Ursula three and a half years ago. She’s a lap dog so she’s pretty much always sitting on one of us, and we spend a lot of time as a family. She makes us laugh every single day. We couldn’t imagine our lives without her.

Ursula and Watson.

DW: What advice would you give dog owners who adopt dogs with special needs?

R&W: We don’t consider Ursula special needs because her missing eye doesn’t present any challenges in her daily life. But here’s our advice for adopting any rescue dog: make sure you do your research and ask a lot of questions about the dog’s history (if available), personality and temperament... Be realistic about your lifestyle and commitment level, and have a clear idea of what size, temperament and energy level would be most compatible. 

Remember that you’ll be integrating a new creature, with a history and habits, into your life and home, which can be a bumpy process. So most importantly, be patient! It can take weeks or even months for a “new normal” to be established with your pup. It’s all worth it, though!

Check out Ursula’s Instagram @one.eyed.ursula.