Imagine this: while walking and going about your day, you stumble upon a box. Will you be brave enough to open it? Just like life, sometimes it gives us a sign or an opportunity waiting to be opened. Such a thing happened with a veterinarian when someone knocked on her door.
Melissa Shapiro is a woman known for being compassionate with animals so it completely makes sense that she works as a veterinarian. She owns seven dogs, one of which is a deaf and blind dog named Piglet.
One day, fate came knocking at her door when several people messaged her, telling her about an abandoned deaf and blind dog. The poor dog was left in a box in the streets of Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Knowing the challenge it takes to raise a deaf and blind dog, Shapiro declined, but it seemed like her heart couldn’t take it that after having several conversations with her husband, they decided to adopt the dog, who they later named Georgie.
They brought Georgie home in a black bag, and once they opened it, the happiness of having Georgie with them began.
Living With Disabilities
Georgie’s life is not the typical sob story that you would hear about a deaf and blind dog. In fact, Georgie is living his best life as his disabilities did not hinder him from living the life of a dog — a happy one. As soon as his paws touch the ground, you’ll get unlimited zoomies. He even has his very own signature dance, in which he does a jumping jig, especially when his owner, Shapiro, calls out his name.
Shapiro was not new to taking care of a dog that was both blind and deaf, so when she got Georgie, she immediately took him to the beach to feel the water and the touch of sand on his paws. This is when she quickly realizes that Georgie loves the outdoors, making him an active dog. This was the quality that Shapiro loved about Georgie: there are no hindrances when it comes to having fun or being active.
Communicating with Georgie wasn’t hard at all since Shapiro taught him tap signals during his first few days at home. Traditional dog training methods, such as verbal and hand signals, were out of the question, as creativity is needed to teach Georgie how to communicate with his owners. Taking all of these in, Shapiro developed a tactile language that consists of a series of touches and nudges. This approach deepened Shapiro and Georgie’s bond as he found his new sense of independence and calmness in his owner’s presence.
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Decoding Georgie
Taking a sneak peek at Shapiro and Georgie’s lessons, a gentle tap on the shoulder means it’s time to eat while stroking down his back, which translates to playtime. As time continued to pass, Georgie became used to the tapping motions that he began to respond to show his affectionate side to Shapiro.
Georgie never had a dull day of learning as his dog easily adapts. For instance, he has his own way of learning and exploring the outdoors. If you’re a dog owner, you know how dogs will always start from the edges to work themselves when sniffing the ground. For Georgie, he begins exploring at the center as he spirals outside.
Speaking of the outdoors, Georgie has already mastered the art of walking a couple of feet beside Shapiro. However, he doesn’t see hurdles, but he can certainly feel it in his senses. Georgie feels and senses things by using his paw and his nose, where he can smell.
The sense of touch is not just a feeling for Georgie; he also uses this gift to navigate. In Shapiro’s home, the living room is a safe haven for Georgie since all his toys are placed there. Just by feeling his toys in his paws, he knows he is already in his resting nest. Georgie likes to feel different textures — may it be from his soft fleece blanket or the smoothness of his toys. For Georgie, it’s all about feeling things with a touch or tap.
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From The Club
Melissa Shapiro chose to open the box when it was presented right on her doorstep. Although there are challenges, Shapiro was on a mission to give Georgie a second chance in life. With this, Shapiro had raised a strong and happy dog under her care. I appreciate how Shapiro formulated a communication through touch that made Georgie feel secure. Indeed, Shapiro was an angel.
