Love Isn't Blind or Deaf, A Second Chance At Life

LOVE ISN'T BLIND or DEAF

A Second Chance at Life: Zoe's Story

Written by Jodi Felty McCall, Zoe's mom

We weren’t looking for a puppy…

Or at least I wasn’t, but my husband and best friend had a plan. A new dachshund puppy for Christmas was in the works! I had stated several times that I wanted our next puppy to be a beautiful grey dachshund... but that it would be in the future. So, my best friend, Jeanne, decided to send me a photo that she saw on the Carolina Poodle Rescue (CPR) Facebook page of a 5 week old, 3 lb., abandoned, and blind dachshund puppy just “to see if I would be receptive to getting a puppy.” She had already adopted several poodles from CPR but knew that they would rescue any dog in need, and this little dachshund was very much in need. This little girl had been abandoned on the side of the road when her breeder realized that she was blind (over the coming weeks CPR also realized she was deaf!).

As the next couple of days passed, I was honestly a little frustrated that Jeanne had sent me the link. It broke my heart, and I couldn’t stop thinking about this little puppy. She wasn’t the perfect little grey dachshund that I planned to buy, but she was the result of irresponsible breeding. I had never seen a dachshund with her coloring, and I wanted to understand why was she blind and deaf. Soon, I started researching – her coat was white with a “merle” pattern. This pattern is result of the merle gene, which causes a marbling effect on the coat and creates lighter spots throughout the solid color coat (also called “dapple”).

This coat is beautiful and unique. However, when you breed two dogs that carry this dominant gene, you create a double-merle puppy. The marbling/lightening effect is doubled, and the coat becomes predominantly white. It is also extremely irresponsible to breed two dogs with this coat since every puppy in the litter inherits the gene twice, which means there is a 25% or greater chance that the puppies will be born almost all white and deaf, blind, or both. It is irresponsible but 100% preventable by not breeding merle to merle.

So, my husband and I starting talking about what we should do. Maybe we would just get approved to adopt and go and see the puppy at her foster home in Columbia. There would be no commitment, so we started the process. After the application was reviewed and we had our interview, we were approved to adopt. We decided to take our dachshund, Lucy, to visit the puppy “just to see if they would get along,” but we were not bringing the puppy home. This was a just meet and greet, right? Wrong… we fell in love immediately! Of course, Lucy was fine, and the puppy came home with us. She was precious, so tiny, and sweet.

However what we found out over the next few weeks and months was the most surprising: she was as much a joy as any dog you have ever seen. You see, before adopting, we had many conversations about the responsibility of adopting a blind and deaf puppy. We were sure it would be a considerable burden. However, what we found out was that it was an incredible blessing! We named her Zoë, which means “Life,” and she is certainly full of life! She quickly learned her way around the house and was running and jumping just like any other puppy. Her sense of smell is amazing and we can’t keep anything from her. She knows when we wake up, arrive home, and when someone new enters the room. She has mapped out the house and the backyard and uses the doggie door to come and go as she pleases. Despite her disabilities, she has absolutely no limitations and is embracing life.

You would never know that she was unable to see or hear. She is truly happy all the time, an absolute bundIe of joy. Additionally, she is a very typical puppy and is into everything with tons of personality. Lucy has even become an excellent big sister. We simply could not imagine our life without little Zoë!

After this experience, here is what we have learned: adopt, don’t shop! There are so many dogs that need homes, even some that are extra special like Zoë!

***Carolina Poodle Rescue is a nokill/limited entry private rescue group that believes and supports “No More Homeless Pets and spay/neuter initiatives.” They are a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. All animals adopted from Carolina Poodle are spayed or neutered before being placed. They provide sanctuary and rehabilitation and, when the right home comes along, re-home poodles and other needy small dogs. Their efforts are funded solely through adoption fees and donations.