Nellie’s journey as a deaf and blind puppy is both heartwarming and inspiring. Born with a genetic condition that led to her impairments, she was rejected by her breeder and subsequently taken in by Secondhand Hounds, a foster-based rescue organization. Despite her challenges, Nellie quickly adapted to her new home, navigating her environment remarkably well with the help of her acute sense of smell.
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Nellie was initially a concern for her foster family, who worried about how well she would cope being deaf and blind. However, Nellie surprised everyone with her ability to quickly feel comfortable in her new surroundings. She learned to map out every inch of the house and could confidently chase other dogs around with surprising speed and accuracy, relying heavily on her sense of smell to guide her.
Her foster family made sure to keep their home layout consistent to help her navigate safely. Nellie developed close bonds with the household members, often needing to be in physical contact with them or the other dogs, which seemed to comfort her. She had a unique way of greeting people by pressing her mouth gently against theirs, a gesture her family saw as her own way of “kissing.”
Her daily life was full of normal dog activities like digging, which she enjoyed alongside her canine siblings. Interestingly, the family discovered that the previous homeowners also had dogs that had left behind hidden treasures in the yard, which Nellie and her siblings loved to dig up.
One of Nellie’s adorable quirks was her belief that she was being sneaky during her adventures around the house and yard, despite being quite noticeable. She also had a distinct marking on her nose, humorously matched by a similar mark under the noses of her human family members.
Nellie’s story attracted several potential adopters, and although her foster family found it hard to consider letting her go, they were hopeful for her future.
