Angel’s Story
Here is some backstory from her new forever (human) father, who also adopted another blind and deaf rescue which I flew to them via Pilots N Paws—PNP Pilot Fred:
Bottom line up front – Miss Tommie helped rescue Angel!
I received a message through Miss Tommie’s Facebook page from a woman in Oklahoma asking what to do with a blind and deaf puppy she had “informally rescued” from her sister’s home, where the puppy was being allowed to wander unsupervised outside, in the street etc. They knew the dog was blind, but had just discovered it was also deaf. The woman knew the pup wouldn’t last long in that situation.
The woman informed me that, now at her home, her older dog had been aggressive toward the puppy, having bitten it, drawing blood in the altercation. In replying, I noted that the negative interaction with the older dog could cause the puppy confusion and fear that might create long-term problems for her training and development (blind and deaf dogs can shut down, especially if afraid), and asked if she had the time and resources to commit to caring for the puppy. I was trying to leave an opening to her perhaps admit she didn’t.
I didn’t get a reply.
A day or two later I received another inquiry about why I thought the puppy wasn’t sleeping at/through the night. I shared that 1) she is a puppy; and 2) unless something about her routine signals it is night time (something we do with Miss Tommie by putting blankets on the floor at night), the puppy may not know day from night. I again asked if she needed help and offered that I had resources in the mid-south who might be able to help.
Seeing an opportunity and perhaps also due to fatigue, the woman said she didn’t think she could commit to Angel’s needs. She mentioned that she had several adopted children, two of whom were ill, one terminally. So a blind and deaf dog wasn’t something to which she could commit.
The short version of what transpired next is that I contacted our dear friend and the “Godmother of dog rescue in the mid-south” Donna Easley (who coordinated Tommie’s transport) who arranged for a pilot to pick up Angel in Oklahoma and deliver her to Little Rock where Donna and a team, including dog foster extraordinaire “Grandma Gretchen” have taken care of Angel, getting her fully vetted, spayed, and into a loving and stable temporary foster home.
Conveniently (serendipitously?
We have played an *intense* game of mental ping pong, considering all relevant factors as much as we are able, including whether we’re plain nuts, whether we’ll do Miss Tommie any disservice, how we’ll handle any bumps in the road (that we’d be fools not to think are possible, perhaps likely), attempting (sadly, unsuccessfully) to garner support of a local rescue with which we have worked for years in helping us should we need it.
At the end of the day, here’s where things stand right now:
She needs a home. We have one.
She needs people who understand. We do.
She needs commitment. So we’re making one.
And thankfully, we know a really generous pilot!
