Blind-poodle rescues

by P.A.
(New York)

We'd had many dogs, but no poodles, until:
POODLE #1 -- In 2004, we rescued a blind, badly neglected, 12-lb., 14-year-old male poodle, who'd outlived his owner. The dog was scheduled to be euthanized. Instead, we took him -- though we'd always had terriers of some sort, and knew absolutely nothing about poodles.
He was a wonderful dog, and we were stunned by his athleticism (at such an advanced age), good nature, sensitivity, and almost-scary intelligence.
Despite blindness, he easily found his way around -- and we helped by putting nonskid throw rugs in key places (so he could use textures as cues), leaving floors clear, and blocking areas where he might become stuck.

We were bereft when he died at age 18, and had no plans to adopt another dog ... until:
POODLE #2 -- Three months later, a white 9-lb. poodle landed in a local kill shelter. This fellow was Mr. Least Adoptable: over 10 years old, blind, deaf, barely able to eat (due to major dental problems), and so thin and scruffy that he looked like a dirty ferret. He'd been abandoned on a snowy street, and avoided euthanasia only because two advocates were trying to place him.
By the time we learned about him, he'd been in a dirty kill-shelter cage for 10 days, and the advocates had pretty much given up: no one offered to adopt, and no-kill shelters and rescue groups had no room.
So we adopted him -- on the day he was scheduled to be euthanized -- and immediately arranged for vet/dental care and grooming.
Two years later ... we're stunned by _his_ athleticism, good nature, sensitivity, and almost-scary intelligence. He also gets around easily, though he's blind/deaf, and requires "touch" commands as well some rug-and-furniture arranging.

A special-needs dog does require some adaptations and different expectations -- but it's well worth the effort. And our special-needs senior poodles have been amazing -- good-natured, sensitive, social ... and absolutely off-the-charts smart.