About
Meet Piglet
Piglet, the deaf blind pink puppy was rescued from a hoarding situation in Georgia along with his mother and 3 litter mates. He is a Dachshund Chihuahua mix, and the product of two dapple colored parents. Dapple to dapple breeding results in a 25% chance of each puppy being “double dapple”. This double dapple color pattern is linked to congenital ear and eye defects that may result in partially or completely deaf/blind puppies. Piglet is deaf and blind.
Piglet traveled to CT on March 4, 2017 because he needed more individualized attention than the rescue group was able to provide. He was a 1 1/2 pound screaming baby. We were planning on fostering Piglet until he found his forever home. As things happen, his foster home was his forever home. Our family adopted Piglet in May, 2017.
After months of screaming and severe separation anxiety, Piglet finally got into a routine snuggling in his Favorite Dad's arms, playing with his dog pack siblings, taking walks down the street, traveling to house calls with his veterinarian mom, visiting the animal hospital to see his BFFs, and visiting his friends at the bank and pet stores. He is very popular wherever he goes as he has a way of creating smiles on the faces of everyone he meets.
Piglet is deaf and blind. He has learned how to face his challenges with a positive attitude despite his limitations. He optimizes his senses of smell, touch, taste, and love, to engage and be part of his family, his environment, and his happy life. He is an enthusiastic little dog with a positive Piglet Mindset!
A Piglet Mindset is:
- Facing challenges with a positive attitude.
- Focusing on what you have and moving past what you don’t.
- Accepting individuals for who they are and including them despite their differences.
- Having empathy and understanding towards others and following up with positive actions.
- Being kind to all people and animals
About Piglet International, Inc.
Mission: The mission of Piglet International Inc. is to support our Piglet Mindset Educational Outreach Program as well as special needs dog rescues and related organizations.
Definition: A Piglet Mindset is facing and overcoming challenges with a positive attitude. It is focusing on what you have and moving past what you don’t. It is accepting individuals for who they are and including them despite their differences. It is having empathy and understanding towards others and following up with positive actions. And it is being kind to all people and animals.
Explanation: Piglet is an adorable little deaf blind dog who acts as a vehicle to engage children as he faces his challenges with a positive attitude. Piglet uses the 3 senses he has to live a happy, meaningful, productive life. His adventures with his supportive 6-pack of rescue dogs gives children an authentic, real-life example of acceptance, inclusion, empathy, and kindness regardless of looks, abilities, and disabilities.
Strategy: Through online materials to be used by teachers, parents, scout leaders, counselors, and others, the Piglet Mindset Educational Outreach Program reinforces Growth Mindset lessons and emphasizes Acceptance, Inclusion, Empathy, and Kindness. We also teach children about animal rescue and how to become effective animal advocates. In-person and virtual school visits, and appearances at fundraisers and other events support our mission. Fundraising via direct donations and Piglet Merchandise sales supports Piglet Mindset Educational Outreach as well as special needs dog rescues and related organizations.
Donate: We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation so all donations are tax deductible! Donations directly fund our Piglet Mindset Educational Outreach Program materials, school visits and other outreach events, travel expenses, and support for teachers and others using our online Piglet Mindset Curriculum. Donations also support special needs dog rescues and other organizations that share our mission.
Meet Melissa and Warren
Warren and Melissa Shapiro met at a Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club ride in Darien, CT. They quickly discovered that they both had dogs that they took to work with them every day. Warren had no idea what he was getting himself into when he suggested that they should set up a first date, with their dogs.
Melissa Shapiro is a veterinarian and a lifelong animal welfare advocate. Decades later, as their three kids left the house for college, their two-dog max rule somehow fell by the wayside and their pack of two became a pack of 6 rescued dogs!
When Warren and Melissa agreed to foster the tiny 1-pound deaf blind puppy in March of 2017, they had no idea that their decision would be life-changing. Warren named the puppy Piglet, and he became Piglet's Favorite Dad! Melissa takes Piglet and a few of the other dogs to work with her every day.
Piglet's life with his Mom, Favorite Dad, and dog pack are chronicled in great detail with daily posts on his Instagram and Facebook pages.
