This heartwarming story has a wonderful parallel to life in general. A dog with only four months to live, is given a second chance at enjoying life from a selfless man who also was seeking his second chance at life, after being homeless for many years. There’s a bridge in Minnesota where a red-haired dog walks around the bridges with his owner, moving between cities and enjoying the breeze from the Mississippi River despite the blind dog not seeing the view from below. But how did this happen?
Meet Nanna, an 18-year-old dog who is both blind and deaf. She was adopted by Abe Switters, also known as Mr. Puckett on social media, from the Nashville Humane Association.
Just over six months ago, Nanna underwent surgery where her eyes had to be removed, marking one of the most challenging periods in her life.
Nanna struggled to comprehend her surroundings and situation during this time. Despite these difficulties, Switters found Nanna beautiful, seeing her inner spirit shine through, even without her eyes.
But life had not always been a breeze for Nanna, especially before Switters came into her life.
Only 3-4 Months to Live
In the summer of 2020, Switters, who had previously struggled with drug addiction, moved to Nashville for a fresh start with his previous dog, Mr. Puckett, from whom he later got his similar nickname.
Unfortunately, Mr. Puckett (the dog) passed away after the move.
Heartbroken from losing of his beloved dog, Switters was determined to help animals. He went on Instagram and saw a post from the Nashville Humane Association about a 15-year-old blind and deaf dog named Nanna who had terminal heart disease.
Switters wanted to give Nanna a loving home before her condition claimed her life, so he brought her to the veterinary clinic, where he learned that Nanna’s condition was terminal and she had only three to four months left to live.
Although Switters was not allowed to adopt Nanna due to her being under hospice care, he continued to support her recovery by giving her fresh air and exercise every day.
He started by taking Nanna on short walks around the block, gradually increasing the distance to one mile until she could eventually reach six. Over time, Switters noticed that Nanna began walking straight, and her hair started to grow back.
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The Journey Isn’t Over for Nanna
Two-and-a-half years later, Nanna was still alive and thriving. She would always go on walks and even six mile adventures with Switters.
Switters would post pictures of Nanna on his Imgur and other social media pages, which eventually grew a viral following.
Since he noticed the sudden surge of their followers, Switters wanted to give back to the community, so he thought of something to help the housing center for the survivors of interpersonal violence and their children.
Through the Puckett Week, Nanna and Switters raised more than $50,000 in donations and supplies for the Center, aiming to furnish the apartments where survivors reside.
According to Switters, who was once a homeless man, he never thought that his love and care for Nanna, whom he considers family, would enable him to help others in need.
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The Peace With Crossing a Bridge
Recently, Nanna and Switters relocated to St. Paul, Minnesota, embarking on a new adventure of crossing every bridge in the Twin Cities area.
It all began during a walk on a bridge near Minnehaha Falls when Switters observed that Nanna would always stop and gaze intently from beneath the bridge despite having no eyes. At that moment, he realized he had never seen her so peaceful.
When they went home, Switters mapped out the bridges where he planned to walk Nanna, eager to witness her newfound sense of calm.
Every bridge Nanna crossed, Switters posted on his social media pages under the name of Mr. Puckett.
Soon enough, Switters and Nanna garnered more followers online and local news stations started covering Nanna’s journey, documenting her crossings of the bridges.
To date, Nanna has already crossed the Stone Arch Bridge, Rock Island Swing Bridge, Smith Avenue High Bridge, Washington Avenue Bridge, Wabasha Street Bridge, Ford Bridge, Hennepin Avenue Bridge, and Irene Hixon Whitney Bridge.
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From The Club
As the owner of a 14-year-old Pomeranian, who I fondly call my fur brother, I understand Nanna’s “bridges” or challenges. It’s difficult to witness your pet suffer due to old age. However, just as Abe Switters did for Nanna, he made her condition more bearable by allowing her to experience the world and giving her love during the final stages of her life. This care and affection, in turn, helped her live a longer and happier life.
It’s heartening to witness Mr. Switters’ life transform for the better because of his love for Nanna. This love not only inspired him to assist a community in need but also allowed him to find his own sense of fulfillment. By sharing photos of Nanna on his blog, he extended his creativity, creating an actual win-win situation that showcases the profound impact dogs can have on humans.
