What the eyes can’t see…

There’s a dog lover’s saying that goes “Blind Dogs See with Their Hearts.” In our case, our hearts were captured by a blind and partially deaf West Highland White Terrier Poodle mix named Stevie who was living at Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue. I posted a while back about Stevie and since that time, my family and I have fallen head over heals in love with him. That being said, we officially adopted Stevie and will be bringing him home tomorrow!

We’ve been educating ourselves about the precautions we need to take to prepare our home for his safety and we’re good to go. We’ve put a baby gate at the top of the stairs, raised all exposed cords, created a ‘safe spot’ for him and even put a low fence in an area of the yard that will give him a frame of reference when he’s doing his business outside. We’ve hung jingle bells by the front door so he can tell when we open it, and we’ve hung a small bell on Toby’s collar so Stevie can hear him coming. He’s been added to our pet insurance, a vet visit has been scheduled and we’ve booked our first grooming appointment (our groomer has a blind dog as well). He’s got his own bed set up, a new set of toys and treats, a smart little collar, a tag telling others that he’s blind and a comfy harness for walks. We even bought a classical music CD to play for him at night because that’s what he’s used to hearing at the shelter.

I’ve joined several online groups for owners of blind dogs, downloaded multiple articles, bought several books and talked to everyone I know that has any experience with blind dogs.

We’re so excited to have Stevie as a member of our family. He is a very special little dog with a huge heart and a lot of love to give. And we have a ton of love waiting for him. I know he has quite a bit to teach us and we’re so blessed to have found him.

Soon you’ll be reading much more about Stevie, Toby and all of our wonderful adventures together!

Related Articles

• The Wonder of Stevie (hearts4paws.wordpress.com)
• You’re formally invited (hearts4paws.wordpress.com)

You’re formally invited

Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue in Mukwonago, Wisconsin is requesting the public’s presence at the joining of paws for two very special rescue dogs. Stevie, a special West Highland White Terrier/Poodle mix will wed his mystery bride on Saturday, February 19^th at 6:00 p.m. at For Pet’s Sake Dog Training at 828 Perkins Drive in Mukwonago.  

Families and their canine friends are invited to witness the exchange of the dogs’ wedding vows and tags. An Elvis impersonator will serenade the couple and a dog and a human wedding cake will be served. An open Muttini bar will be available for all canine attendees and a secured dance floor will be provided for those four-legged friends who want to kick up their paws. A silent auction, interactive games, raffles, pet portraits, food, drinks and music, as well as animal communicator, Tresa Laferty ($25 for a 20-minute session), will be provided for everyone’s entertainment.

Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue is requesting a $10 donation at the door and/or a selection from the couple’s gift registry at End of the Leash in Mukwonago. They are registered for items such as Diamond dry puppy food, canned Pedigree® puppy or adult food, Kuranda dog beds and Martingale Collars in petite, small, or medium sizes. An RSVP is appreciated, but not necessary, to 414-750-0152.

Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue is committed to the rescue, care and adoption of Bichon Frises, Shelties and other small breeds and mixes. Primarily serving Southeastern Wisconsin and Northeastern Illinois, Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue takes in dogs surrendered by their owners, dogs found as strays and those rescued from puppy mills.

The Wonder of Stevie

There’s a special little pup at Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue named Stevie. What makes Stevie so special is more than just his even temperament and outgoing personality. Stevie is special because he’s wonderfully friendly and social despite that fact that he’s blind and deaf in one ear. This West Highland White Terrier Poodle mix was surrendered by a breeder when it was discovered that he was blind. After seeing an eye specialist, it was determined that Stevie’s optic nerve didn’t develop properly which leaves him sightless with the exception of maybe being able to see some light. After getting his hearing tested, it was also determined that Stevie is deaf in one ear. So while he can hear, he can’t always determine the source or direction of the sound.

Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue staff is looking for an exceptional home for this extraordinary little pup. And because he is so social, he would do well in a home with another dog to play and hang out with. Despite his handicaps, Stevie is a wonderful little guy who will make the right individual very happy.

I’ve spent some time with Stevie and I’m so impressed with his playfulness and ability to get along with other dogs. I’m also amazed at his adaptability and how he is able to get around despite his handicap. Stevie is a lesson is overcoming what seems to be an insurmountable challenge with grace and a smile. Regardless of his physical limitations, he is eager to make new friends, excited to play with others, and determined to do things on his own.

And that is the wonder of Stevie!

Little Hearts and Little Paws

I took my kids with me on Wednesday to the shelter where I volunteer – Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue. I was a little apprehensive because I was bringing a 7-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy into a facility with 20 plus small dogs. I lectured them on the drive there, giving them strict instructions on how we greet the dogs, what the different colored bandanas on the dogs meant, the importance of listening to the women who run the shelter, how we walk the dogs, and anything else I could think of. We talked about where some of the dogs came from and what brought them to the rescue as well.

We walked through the door to a raucous chorus of barking to which my daughter cried “It’s like a doggy orchestra in here!”. My son’s face lit up as Streaker, a terrier mix known for his high-flying agility, jumped on to the half wall in the entryway with his tail wagging away in greeting.

We started by taking two dogs for a walk, Powder and Muffin Man. It was really cold out, so we opted to spend the rest of our time socializing with the dogs. Maggie, who cares for the dogs throughout the day, set up a place for my son to sit so the dogs could come to him, while my daughter played with a Chihuahua named George. She was thrilled to carry him around as he cuddled in her arms. My son laughed over and over again as several dogs came to jump on him, play with him, and just sit quietly next to him.  He connected instantly with an older dog named Muffin Man. Muffin Man is an 11-year-old Bichon Frise who was an owner surrender. His owners had to move and weren’t able to take him with them. Muffin captured my heart as well the first time I met him. He is very sweet, social and he seems gets along well with both humans and dogs alike. Muffin Man followed my son everywhere he went that day and when he moved into a different room, Muffin Man would sit outside the door and wait for him.

Our next activity was in the puppy room. Virgil, a Miniature Schnauzer who was surrendered by a commercial breeding facility, had delivered her puppies at Bichon and Little Buddies and was currently raising them in a separate area of the shelter. Virgil is a timid girl but very sweet and her seven puppies are absolutely gorgeous. My kids helped me move the puppies and their mama from the room, so I could clean up their papers and mop the floor. It was so sweet to see my children surrounded by soft and fluffy puppies. They climbed on to their laps, nibbled on their coat zippers, tugged on my daughter’s hair and licked their faces. Every time I opened the door to the puppy room, they all clambered to get back in while my children scrambled to capture their squirmy little bodies before they hit the wet floor. Virgil sat off to the side and watched calmly as my kids played her pups and even attempted to give them each a curious sniff.

After that, it was time to head out. My daughter made her rounds to say goodbye to all the new canine friends she had made. I watched her talking sweetly to George and then move through the room to bid farewell to the others. I turned around and saw my son standing stock still with tears streaming down his face. I went over to see what was wrong, only to find out that he didn’t have the heart to leave Muffin Man. He wanted to bring him home right then. Maggie, who saw him crying, came over with some dog treats for him to give to Muffin Man before we left. I consoled my son and explained that we would come back to visit Muffin Man again very soon. After the tears dried, we said goodbye to Maggie and headed home.

My kids are still talking about their visit to the shelter and I’m still talking about how proud I am of them for the compassion and kindness they showed to all of the dogs that day.

By the way, we’re still talking about Muffin Man, too. Hmmm…..

So thankful…

It’s the week of Thanksgiving and I’m excited. Thanksgiving and Christmas are my two favorite holidays. I especially like Thanksgiving because it’s a chance for people to get together without the pressure of gift giving and just enjoy each others’ company. It’s an opportunity to appreciate the ones you love, show gratitude, and reflect on the blessings and challenges the last year has offered.

I really enjoy the tradition of a full table, a beautifully displayed turkey, and a circle of smiles surrounding it. I always envision the famous Norman Rockwell painting when I’m setting my table.

This year, I’m grateful for the new opportunities opening up around me. Volunteering at the Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue, enrolling at the Animal Behavior College, starting this blog, and meeting new animal lovers every day. I’m grateful for my loving, beautiful family, who has been so supportive of my passion, and for my dog, Toby, who still lights up when I walk in the door even if I’m covered with the smells of other dogs. He has shown myself and my family unconditional love and I’m so thankful for him and the joy he has brought us.

What an amazing day!

Today was my first day volunteering at Bichon and Little Buddies Rescue. What a great day! B&LB is the same rescue where we found Toby. Patti, the woman who runs the shelter, as well as the attached training facility, does amazing work there. These dogs come from all different backgrounds – puppy mills, owner surrenders and animal control. I could tell from the first time I met Patti that she really cared about the animals she was rescuing, and I found out today that she also knows all of the rescued dogs by name and can tell you about each of their personalities. She is focused on working with those dogs that may have behavior issues like separation anxiety or fear to get them to a point of being adoptable.

As volunteers, we take the time to socialize the dogs, teach them how to walk on a leash and generally provide them with love and affection. We also help keep their living arrangement clean. At BL&B, the dogs have lots of room to run and have easy access to the outdoors. The facility is nice and bright with special spaces for special needs animals and puppies.

I spent the first part of my visit with Patti learning how they did things and meeting her staff and the dogs. On the second part of my visit, I took three different dogs for walks around the neighborhood. Muffin, an 11-year-old male Bichon, was raring to go. He is an owner surrender and sweet as can be. He did great on his walk – he actually loved it! He was friendly, affectionate and got along with all of the other dogs. He’ll be a great companion for anyone. Merlot was next. A year-old Shetland Sheepdog/Papillon Mix (best guess) who was a stray, Merlot thoroughly enjoyed his walk. He was friendly, social and never stopped wagging his tail.  That little guy actually looked like he was smiling as we were walking along. My last walk of the day was Taco, a long-haired chihuahua mix who is somewhere around 8 years old. As stray as well, I was told he prefered women to men, and would probably do best in a female only home or one that will understand that he is going to need time to warm up to the males in the household.  He was a little shy and moved away when I tried to pet him, but he was very submissive and by the end of our walk, he was actually trotting along happily and making eye contact with me.

It was a great day! I can’t wait to go back again next week. And I’m hoping that I get to see all of these little buddies adopted into their forever homes!