Who's Behind the White Dog Blog?

The very first post in the White Dog Blog was published on Sept. 19, 2010. If you haven't been following us since then, let me catch you up on my inspiration behind the scenes.

I had been involved with sheltie rescue for many years, both through fostering and adopting. This story begins in early May 2010. I found myself drawn to look at shelties needing homes online. I wasn't necessarily looking for a new dog - or at least that's what I told myself. But I found myself looking there, none the less. Something or someone had led me to look there.

When I first saw her picture, her name was Snowy. She was listed as living in a shelter in Missouri. The instant my eyes saw her picture, my heart belonged to her. I wondered how I would go about getting her from Missouri to Pennsylvania, but I inquired about her anyway.

The shelter answered me, saying that I was too late. Someone else (from Pennsylvania of all places!) was already in the process of doing paperwork to adopt her. My heart sank. I tried to be happy for her, that she had found a wonderful home and would no longer sit in a shelter alone. But I had felt an instant connection with her without even having met her. Her picture was printed out next to my computer. I stared at it. I couldn't make myself throw it away. I had a feeling that I would run into Snowy again someday.

Almost three months later, I learned that a sheltie rescue near me had taken in two new dogs that would be looking for homes. One was a white female who was deaf and had no eyes. I wondered to myself if it could be my friend Snowy. I scurried to find her picture which was somewhere in the stack of papers by my computer. I hoped the dog at the rescue might be her, but at the same time, I prepared myself that there was no way it could be the same dog.

I took a chance and emailed the rescue about her. I gave them all the information I had about Snowy and sent her picture from the online listing. I was shocked to get a quick email back from the rescue saying that the dog they had was indeed the same Snowy!

When I first saw Snowy's picture several months ago, I had secretly named her Treasure in anticipation of her coming home with me. That day, her name became Treasure and she became part of my family.

This little white dog inspired the White Dog Blog to be born. Treasure was 4 years old when she came to me. Her coloring is commonly known as double merle. Yes, she is beautiful, and her color is not commonly seen in shelties. That coloring is the result of an irresponsible breeding decision. When two dogs displaying the merle color are bred together, some of the puppies may have defects which cause visual and/or hearing impairments to various degrees.

Many double merle puppies were being euthanized at birth due to their color - something that they, of course, had no control of. Many people held the idea that a blind and deaf dog was miserable and deprived of living a happy and full life. They could not understand how a dog could enjoy life without being able to see and hear. The perception was that the poor dog would sit alone all day missing out on everything happening around her.

But Treasure did so many things that so-called "normal" dogs did - she played and wrestled with my puppy, she always knew when I had something yummy to eat, she chewed bones, she loved to explore the yard, and she loved meeting new friends. She cuddled on the bed at night, she played in her tunnel, and she licked my toes.

This is why I started the White Dog Blog. I wanted others to get a glimpse into Treasure's life. For those people who may have a dog like Treasure, and for those who may be thinking of adopting one. For the rescues and shelters and foster homes that desperately want to do right by all the dogs in their care. And, for those who are simply curious.

Since starting the blog in 2010, we have helped to educate rescues, shelters, and foster families, and we've helped to save and find homes for many dogs that perhaps would not have had the opportunity for adoption in the past. We continue to support potential and new adopters, and families who share their homes with these special dogs. We expand the knowledge of pet professionals in how they can include blind/deaf dogs into their services - trainers, groomers, sitters, and more!

I hope you will all continue to learn from the White Dog Blog! Thank you for joining us on this journey!

*For more information or support regarding blind and/or deaf dogs, please contact me through www.yourinnerdog.com.