Shelter Pup Helps His Deaf-Blind Sister Navigate Through Daily Life

Mar 06, 2020 by apost team

In 1943, Boys Town chose as its image and logo a drawing of a boy who carried a younger boy on his back, captioned “He ain’t heavy, Father … he’s m’ brother!”

This expression of love for another and not perceiving the one taken care of as a burden is visibly demonstrated in the case of two puppies abandoned in rural Louisiana. The brother leads and cares for his deaf and virtually blind sister because she, too, is no burden to him.

This tender, loving sibling relationship has touched the hearts of many animal lovers. After the dogs were rescued with another six siblings by the Helen Woodward Animal Center of Rancho Sante Fe, California, workers noticed that the two named Star and Denver exhibited a unique relationship. Star, a female, demonstrated an inability to see and remained close to her brother Denver's side as he guided her.

Later on, workers discovered that Star is also deaf. Because Denver is aware of Star's disabilities, if he moves away from her, he returns in short intervals to reassure his sibling that he is not far from her, according to the animal center's Facebook. When the two white dogs move around together, Star's keen sense of smell keeps her aware of Denver's presence, thus preventing her from accidentally straying from her brother.

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In a press release, reports People, the manager of adoption services at Helen Woodward, Dora Dahlke, has made this observation about Denver and Star's relationship: "It is really extraordinary.... We never stop learning from animals.”

The two terrier-blends are ready to be adopted. Those who are interested in adopting these loving siblings devoted to each other should be certain that they are committed to the care of these dogs. Also, it will be the people, rather than the dogs, who undergo some training on the best ways to raise a puppy who has special needs.

There should be recommendations from the shelter on whom to contact. Also, organizations that are familiar with people who have sight problems could possibly provide general advice on such things as how to arrange furniture and other items in the home.

With the patience and love modeled by Denver, the owners will easily be informed on how best to care for Star. And, the rewards for their efforts will be great!