Blind Puppy Sat Alone In Wisconsin Shelter Kennel After All Six Of His Siblings Were Chosen
Bear was the only puppy in his litter left behind at a Wisconsin shelter because he was blind. When a woman begged her reluctant fiance to adopt him, the special-needs dog proved that a lack of sight couldn’t hide his incredible heart.
The Last Puppy Waiting
When a litter of seven puppies was dumped at a local shelter, they all deserved a second chance at life. Slowly but surely, eager families came in and scooped them up.
Eventually, six of the puppies had found their forever homes.
However, one puppy remained sitting alone in his kennel. His name was Bear, and he was repeatedly overlooked because he was the only blind puppy in the entire litter.
Pleading For A Chance
A woman named Angie heard about Bear’s heartbreaking situation. She knew that being a blind dog in a shelter meant it was going to be incredibly hard for him to get adopted.
She wanted to bring him home, but her fiance, TJ, was not on board. At first, he was completely against the idea of taking on a special-needs dog.
Angie refused to give up on the little pup. She had to beg TJ to just give Bear a chance.
Winning Over Dad
Despite his initial reluctance, TJ finally agreed to bring the blind puppy home. It didn’t take long for his tough exterior to completely melt away.
In a beautiful twist, the puppy that TJ didn’t want ended up becoming his absolute best friend.
Angie noted that guys often try to act tough, but Bear managed to bring out a whole new side of her fiance. The dog’s happy spirit coaxed out TJ’s playful, fun-loving nature.
A Giant Lap Dog
When they adopted Bear, the shelter gave them a warning about his potential size. They guessed he had some St. Bernard or Mastiff in him, meaning he could easily grow to be 150 pounds.
Angie and TJ still aren’t completely sure of his breed and hope to do a DNA test someday. But regardless of his massive size, Bear’s personality was a total surprise.
Angie had no idea she was bringing home a lap dog. Despite his giant stature, Bear just wants to snuggle and be close to his people.
Nervous Beginnings
Bringing Bear home was a learning curve for the couple. They were both nervous because they had never cared for a special-needs dog before.
They even ended up turning to the internet, Googling, “How do I raise a blind dog?”
To help him adjust, they started by walking him around the house. They wanted to make sure he knew where everything was, especially the doors.
Just Like Any Other Puppy
The couple’s anxiety didn’t last long. After just a couple of days, they looked at each other and realized something amazing.
Raising Bear was no different than raising a normal puppy. It was incredibly easy to get used to his unique way of moving through the world.
He might bump into something once or twice, but his memory is sharp. Once he finds an obstacle, he knows exactly where it is for the next time.
The Power Of Sound
Because Bear doesn’t have his sight, his other senses have become incredibly strong. He relies heavily on sound to gauge distances.
Angie and TJ learned to tap on things so Bear knows exactly where objects are. This simple trick helps him navigate with ease.
He is so smart that he can now jump on the couch and the beds, and get back off, without any help from his parents at all.
No Pity Needed
When people see Bear or hear his story, they often comment that they feel so bad for him. But Angie is quick to correct them.
She tells everyone that there is absolutely no need to feel sorry for her dog. He is beyond confident and always has a toy in his mouth.
He may have been born blind, but he refuses to let that stop him from enjoying every single moment of his life.
A Gentle Giant For The Future
Bear has brought endless joy and laughter into the couple’s home. He is seriously the most loving guy they could have ever asked for.
Angie and TJ already know that he is going to be the perfect family dog. They talk about how, when they have kids someday, Bear will be the ultimate gentle giant.
They picture him as the big dog that all the kids can lay on, poke at, and play with, knowing he won’t mind one bit because he just loves people so much.
Disability Is Not Inability
Reflecting on their journey, Angie says the biggest thing they’ve learned from Bear is that disability is not inability.
Having something different about you doesn’t make you incapable of living a beautiful, full life. Bear doesn’t let his lack of vision affect his happiness at all.
The puppy who was left behind at the shelter is now living his absolute best life, proving that sometimes the greatest gifts come in unexpected packages.
