This dog named Piglet may very well be quoting the famous Winnie the Pooh character he was named after by saying that the things that make him different are the things that make him uniquely, well, him.
The blind, deaf, and adorably pink pup is also starting a new chapter of his life. He is known to be a canine who’s teaching children to accept their differences, and he’s soon going to launch his very own book entitled Piglet: The Unexpected Story Of A Deaf, Blind, Pink Puppy and His Family. The book is published by Simon & Schuster/Atria Books and will hit shelves on August 3 this year.
His book features him on the cover adorably wearing a blue shirt, with a serious look on his face. But despite being on the cover, he isn’t going into this on his own. This is also a family affair, as his owner and Connecticut veterinarian Melissa Shapiro, wrote Piglet’s story—she was instrumental in the little dog’s life, after all.
Shapiro and Piglet go a long way back. When he was just a puppy, Shapiro received a call from the Colbert Veterinary Rescue Services, who asked if she could take in the blind, deaf dog in a poor state of health. She immediately accepted the offer, and the little dog changed her life, too. When she took him home, which she shared with her husband, three children, and six other rescued dogs during that time, Piglet showed signs of anxiety and trauma after being saved from an animal hoarding situation.
During the first weeks of their foster project, Shapiro recalls how Piglet screams inside their house. But they held him, taught him tap signals, and provided him with a comfortable and reliable routine. Eventually, Piglet learned how to connect with his new family, and it became easy for him to gain confidence and learn how to settle down.
It didn’t take long for Piglet to come out of his shell and become confident and strong. With enough patience, consistency, and compassion—along with the help from the family and fellow dogs—Piglet formed a strong bond with her that they didn’t need visual or sound cues to communicate eventually.
Through the love and support of his new family, Piglet transformed into an exuberant and loving six-pound pet. When he was deemed ready to get adopted, Shapiro felt that she was willing to make changes in her life to make the little dog a part of it for a lifetime. She said it was clear that Piglet was ‘already home.’
Fast forward to three years later, and Piglet is still ‘profoundly disabled.’ Still, Shapiro is dedicated to devoting her life to his need for cuddles, a basic daily routine, and a busy social calendar. Regardless, she is more than glad to put this so much work because Piglet is committed to doing these things daily, too.
These details are intimately shared in his new book and also tells the little darling’s rise to fame after Shapiro shared bits and pieces of his life and world view on his Facebook account. He currently has thousands of followers on Facebook and Instagram, and they get to learn about relevant animal causes because of his social media presence.
Shapiro says she promised herself that she would make sure that Piglet led a meaningful and productive life. When her pet’s fame rose, she took the opportunity to create awareness and funding for special needs dog rescue groups.
Of course, this platform was able to open up a lot of other chances to create goodness. Four years ago, a third-grade teacher’s comment inspired Shapiro to start the Piglet Mindset Educational Outreach Program. It aims to provide teaching resources for children and help them learn how to accept and positively go through life’s challenges with a positive mindset—just like what Piglet is doing!
Despite being barely four years old, Piglet already lives to make the world a better place with Shapiro by his side! They are now working on another book entitled Piglet Comes Home, a picture book for kids available by Fall 2021.
But if you need a little dose of Piglet in the meantime, good vibes are readily available through his Facebook, Instagram, and website!
Source: @pinkpigletpuppy / Instagram
