Beaufort, SC.....Thousands of puppies are euthanized every year that should have never been born. If you choose not to spay or neuter your dogs, then you should also be responsible for the puppies they produce. You cannot simply drop them off to be euthanized with the excuse of “Dogs will be Dogs.” The puppies are the ones that suffer for irresponsible breeding.

Backyard breeders should be held to the same standards as licensed breeders. If they breed dogs with known genetic risks, then they should also be responsible for the medical care and lifelong disabilities that can result from poor breeding decisions.

About six weeks ago, a friend reached out to ask if I would help with a deaf and blind puppy. Before I even saw him, I suspected we were dealing with a backyard breeder that had bred two dogs carrying the merle gene.
 

The merle gene in dogs is a dominant genetic mutation in the PMEL gene that creates the beautiful marbled coat patterns many people love. It can also produce blue or odd-colored eyes. The problem is that two merle dogs should never be bred together. When this happens, there is a very high chance the puppies will become “double merles,” often predominantly white and born deaf, blind, or both because they lack the pigment needed for normal development.

Responsible breeders understand these risks and genetically test their dogs to prevent puppies from being born with these devastating and completely preventable disabilities.

Good-hearted people purchased little Pudge hoping they could help him. Sadly, they soon realized he would require far more medical care, patience, and training than they were financially able to provide. Another rescue stepped in and reached out to us so Pudge could have the best possible life despite his many disabilities.

Pudge is a Dachshund mix and quite possibly one of the sweetest puppies you could ever meet. He loves nuzzling into your neck, feeling your heartbeat, and melting into gentle touches and soft strokes. When Pudge first arrived, he was terrified of the world around him, but slowly he began to realize he could trust us to love him, nurture him, and keep him safe.

Any deaf and blind animal is completely dependent on the people caring for them. They cannot see danger or hear warnings and must rely almost entirely on touch, scent, trust, and routine to navigate their world.

Pudge’s eyes never fully developed and his eyelids were inverted, causing his eyelashes to constantly rub against his eyes. We waited nearly a month hoping his eyes would improve or that the lashes were not causing him discomfort, but sadly that was not the case. After a thorough evaluation with Eye Specialist Dr. Anne Cook, we were told our precious boy’s eyes would either need to be removed or they would remain a constant source of pain, irritation, and infection for the rest of his life.

After weeks of discussion and soul-searching, we made the difficult decision to move forward with eye removal because we knew it would ultimately give Pudge the best quality of life possible.

Pudge had surgery a couple of weeks ago, and I am so happy to report that he has been happier ever since. His eye area has healed beautifully, the dissolvable stitches have caused no issues, and he has shown no desire to rub at his face at all. That alone told us we made the right decision.

If anything, Pudge has become even more playful and confident since his surgery. While we are not sure exactly what he could previously perceive — perhaps light or shadows — he now seems far more secure navigating the world around him. He absolutely loves sniffing around the rehab facility and exploring his surroundings using his other senses.

Double merle dogs can absolutely live long, happy lives when they receive proper training, structure, medical care, and patience. Unfortunately, genetics can also cause additional abnormalities that may not appear until later in life. Right now, the primary issues we know Pudge faces are his blindness and deafness. When he first came to us, he was also severely anemic, although thankfully that appears to have resolved for now. His medical team will continue monitoring him closely to ensure any future issues are caught early.

Pudge will remain with us while we continue working on his training and confidence building. We want to do everything possible to keep him safe while also allowing him to simply be a puppy — exploring his environment, learning routines, and discovering the world through trust, touch, and scent.

Pudge will require lifelong care, ongoing medical monitoring, and specialized training in addition to the surgery he has already undergone. Please consider donating whatever you can so we can continue helping Pudge and other special-needs dogs like him have the chance to live out the lives they deserve.

Being deaf and blind should never be a death sentence for any animal.