Blind & Deaf Dog Finds Perfect Forever Home, Living Life to the Fullest Like a “Normal” Pup
Behind every shelter dog’s happy ending is a story of their struggle to find it. A prime example is Sister, a 3-year-old blind and deaf Labrador Retriever currently living her best life with a family that cherishes her deeply.
However, Sister — or Sissy, as pet rescue advocate Rocky Kanaka affectionately nicknamed her — didn’t have an easy start to life. This special needs sweetheart endured the worst at a young age, all thanks to cruel humans who took advantage of her disabilities. These humans saw Sissy as nothing more than a mere breeding machine; they, for a long time, used her to breed and let her live outdoors in appalling conditions.
Thankfully, Sister was eventually rescued by animal control and taken to the shelter, where she strived to put the horrors of her past behind her. As much as the shelter environment offered her security compared to her previous life, this blind and deaf pup was having a hard time coping with the kennel life, and understandably so.
“In an environment like the shelter where blind and deaf dogs don’t know where they are or what’s going on, it’s hard for them to experience real moments of safety and comfort,” Rocky Kanaka explains. “Think about not having your eyesight and having earmuffs on in a place that is unknown.”
Life in a Foster Home
Seeing how much Sissy was struggling at the shelter, Rocky reached out to Animal Friends of the Valleys, who offered to take her in. It didn’t take long before Sister found a foster home, where she experienced love and care like never before. To help Sissy adapt seamlessly to her new environment, her foster got her a blind dog halo, an innovative product designed to help blind pups navigate their surroundings with ease.
“The Halo is equivalent to a stick for blind humans; it acts as an alert perimeter device to let them know they’re about to run into something. Not all dogs benefit from the use of a halo, but it might be worth a shot if you’ve got a clumsy blind,” Rocky, a proud owner of a blind pup, says.
A blind dog halo is the ultimate confidence booster for blind pups, as it helps them walk without the fear of crashing into obstacles in front and beside them. Having a halo helped Sissy thrive in her foster home and lead a fun, normal life, just like a sighted dog.
Sister’s Happy Ending
Sissy recently found her forever home in New Mexico — all thanks to Lovebugs Rescue — and not even her disability stops her from living life to the fullest alongside her dog siblings. Despite all she’s been through, Sissy chooses to rise above her disability each day by making the most out of her chance at lifelong happiness. Her owners can’t imagine life without her.
Many often assume that blind dogs can’t make it out of the shelter because they have nothing to offer, which is further from the truth.
“The thing that surprises me the most about life with a blind dog is their ability to adapt and live in the moment. I have never seen a blind dog be sad or complain about their situation,” Rocky says.
Sissy’s much-deserved happy ending is proof no dream is ever out of reach — not even for blind and deaf shelter dogs, who always dream of experiencing true love in a forever home.
