PARSIPPANY – In a world filled with stories of malnourished and neglected puppies, let us share a heartwarming tale of determination and compassion. These exceptional dogs, once destined for euthanasia and viewed as mere inventory to be discarded when unsold, have been granted a second chance at life. Among these rescues is Sinatra, now known as Denny, an eight-week-old Australian Shepherd with limited vision and deafness.
When Denny arrived at Wise Animal Rescue, his vision and hearing impairments were initially unknown, as rescue organizations typically lack medical records or information about the puppy mills these dogs originate from. Fortunately, a vigilant foster parent recognized the issues and promptly sought veterinary care, confirming the diagnosis. Despite the emotional revelation, everyone involved remained steadfast in their commitment to finding Denny a loving and suitable forever home, regardless of the time it might take.
Finding an adopter for a special needs pup presented a challenge, with no applications received until Kristin’s. Her heartfelt comment on the application, “We have three dogs, two mini Aussies, and one lab/beagle mix who is partially blind! Our family is cute and could use one more nugget! ‘Denny would be a great addition to our family, and we look forward to taking care of him,’ said Kristin.”
Wise Animal Rescue couldn’t have found a more perfect match willing to take on this challenge. After discussing Denny’s disabilities with Kristin and completing the vetting process, Wise believed this was the right fit and was excited to know Denny would have a wonderful life. Now at six months old, Denny enjoys a life filled with love and snuggles. Kristin joyfully shares, “Denny is so cute, he is such a happy pup and loves everyone, people and animals! He has no idea that he is any different than other dogs, he loves life, and we are so happy to have found him.”
Kristin shared more insights about her life with Denny:
- What made you adopt a special needs pup? “We wanted to adopt a dog who may have a more difficult time being adopted, and we have lots of experience with Australian shepherds!”
- What have you been doing to enhance both your lives? Training, etc. “We have been using mostly touch training to teach him commands since we don’t know exactly what he can see out of his eye. He is very eager to learn new things and he also loves to play fetch!”
- Where does he sleep? “Denny sleeps in his crate at night; during the day, he likes to sleep wherever we are!”
- What is the care that is needed? “He needs help figuring out new spaces. If a wall, table, tree, fence, etc., is on his left side and he is not familiar with it yet, he might run into it or hit his head. So we stay close to him and help him map out his space so he can navigate it freely! He also has a powder for his eyesight (to hopefully preserve what he has) that we add to his food.”
- What do you find the biggest challenge? Reward? “The biggest challenge is communication with Denny, but we have figured out the best ways to communicate with him! The biggest reward is seeing him play with his siblings and friends, learning new things, and snuggling!”
- Can you just tell us some of the things he does that make you laugh or smile? “Denny is very silly, loves to have zoomies (he has a pretty specific path that he has for zooming so he doesn’t crash), and whenever you sit on the ground, he comes right over and sits on your lap.”
- What is a typical day for you both? “Denny wakes up around 7:00 a.m. for a little snuggle out of his crate before going outside to go to the bathroom and play with his siblings! Then he eats breakfast and has another play session before his morning nap. He eats lunch and plays some more before his afternoon nap! He likes to go for a walk or play outside some more before he has dinner, then has an after-dinner fetch session before he settles down for the night!”
- Anything else you would like to let us know about your life with Denny? “Denny is so cute, he is such a happy pup and loves everyone, people and animals! He has no idea that he is any different than other dogs; he loves life, and we are so happy to have found him!”
Our heartfelt gratitude goes to Kristin and Wise Animal Rescue for their dedication to saving these often-overlooked pups and bringing together the worlds of humans and disabled dogs. Stay tuned for more heartwarming tales in “The Trials and Tribulations of Being a Foster.”
For more information on Wise Animal Rescue, click here.
Wise Animal Rescue (WISE), based in Parsippany, is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to the well-being of dogs of all breeds. We are comprised of a network of caring people with a grassroots approach working towards a world where no dog is neglected, abused, or homeless.
WISE rescues dogs of all ages and breeds from unsafe environments as well as those who are abandoned or surrendered.
Partnering with veterinary practices that support their work, they can save dogs’ lives and restore them to health.
