blind dogs

Special Needs Pet Feature: Willie

There are so many caring pet parents out there who take care of special needs pets. To bring more attention to these joyful animals, and extraordinary people, this is a new feature to my blog. If you care for a special needs pet and would like your pet featured, please email me through my website contact.  Send a photo and I will forward the questionnaire for your pet to be featured in an upcoming post.


What is your pets name? 

Willie Kanieski

How old is your pet?

About 7 years old

Where did you get your pet? 

He’s a rescue dog we adopted from the DRNA (Dachshund Rescue of North America)

What is your pets physical challenge? 

He is almost entirely blind – he seems to sense movement but that’s it (he even walks into walls now, poor thing)

What is your pets favorite thing to do? 

Napping in the Big Bed is by far his favorite pastime.  He also loves to watch the tv show Simon & Simon with his Auntie Debbie.  He dances around when he hears the theme song on the television & happily snuggles up next to her for an hour.

What is your pets favorite thing to eat?

He loves carrots & cottage cheese for treats.  In summer, he loves fresh green beans, too.  Quite a healthy little guy!

What do you love most about your pet?

I love everything about Willie.  He’s my best friend, my protector, my walking partner & my snuggle-dog.  He’s the snuggliest little guy around!

What has your pet most taught you?

My pet has taught me that I have more patience than I thought.  I put his needs before mine – if he needs to go outside at 3 am in a blizzard, I’m more than happy to go out with him.  He’s also taught me unconditional love more than I thought possible.  He’s just always happy to see me, which makes me appreciate those in my life more, by applying that same principle to my loved ones, in addition to him!

Anything else you’d like to share? 

Willie is an amazing little guy that was abused quite badly & kept outside in a small cage with a Rottweiler before we got him.  He didn’t get to eat everyday & from the sounds of it, never got snuggles.  I am so glad he was brought into our lives and taught us to forget the bad of the past…he’s adapted so well to everything and is so affectionate and snuggly.  I couldn’t ask for a better friend!

I had the pleasure of meeting Willie, his Mom, Jenny and his Aunt Deb last summer.  Willie and Frankie hit it off well!  We would like to ask you, our readers, to please keep Willie’s Aunt Deb in your prayers as she is fighting cancer right now.  We believe in the power of prayer and hope, so please keep her in your prayers.

 

Special Needs Pet Feature: Dumplin’

There are so many caring pet parents out there who take care of special needs pets. To bring more attention to these joyful animals, and extraordinary people, this is a new feature to my blog. If you care for a special needs pet and would like your pet featured, please email me through my website contact.  Send a photo and I will forward the questionnaire for your pet to be featured in an upcoming post.


What is your pets name?

Dumplin’

How old is your pet?

10

Where did you get your pet?

Waggytail Rescue in NYC (www.waggytailrescue.com)

What is your pets physical challenge?

Blindness.

What is your pets favorite thing to do?

Eat!

What is your pets favorite thing to eat?

Almost anything, but if I had to pick one thing I’d say Bully Sticks.

What do you love most about your pet?

She is just the absolute sweetest.  She always has the sweetest look in her eyes.  Her eyes make me melt every time.  Yes, even though she’s blind now they still do.  Ironic isn’t it?

What has your pet most taught you?

To be a trooper.  Don’t let anything stop you or get you down — just keep on truckin’.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Dumplin’ became blind from SARDs (Sudden Acute Retinal Degeneration), which causes dogs to become blind within 5-10 days.  It is due to a thinning of the retina.  There is no know cause or cure.  I want to raise awareness about SARDs and funding for research (http://www.sardsresearch.org/).

Thank you so much for sharing Dumplin’ with us!  What I love is that you are trying to bring more awareness to SARD’s by sharing Dumplin’ with us.

 

Special Needs Pet Feature: Skye

There are so many caring pet parents out there who take care of special needs pets. To bring more attention to these joyful animals, and extraordinary people, this is a new feature to my blog. If you care for a special needs pet and would like your pet featured, please email me through my website contact.  Send a photo and I will forward the questionnaire for your pet to be featured in an upcoming post.


What is your pets name?

Skye

How old is your pet?

3 ½  years

Where did you get your pet?

Rainbow Rescue in Prior Lake MN

What is your pets physical challenge?

She is blind. She was born blind

What is your pets favorite thing to do?

Eat and destroy frisbees

What is your pets favorite thing to eat?

Peanut Butter

What do you love most about your pet?

She doesn’t know she is blind and is fun to play with

What has your pet most taught you?

That disabilities are abilities and not to treat anyone differently

Anything else you’d like to share?

She is an animal ambassador for Minnesota Valley Humane Society is Burnsville MN. She attends book club where kids read to her that are below their grade level. She loves the attention and the kids can relate since she has a disability but it doesn’t slow her down.


Bravo Skye for helping kids read!  You are truly a beautiful ambassador and we are so happy you stopped by to share your story.