Suzette

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Update 07/19/11:

Beautiful Suzette is growing fast! She is currently a robust 15 pounds of pure puppy sweetness. Suzette has visited her family vet several times to further her basic vetting. A visit to an ophthalmologist revealed that, although Suzette is blind and will never see, there are no concerns regarding the health of her eye sockets. She has been a very good girl during all of her vet appointments, but the car rides still make Suzette a little nervous. Sitting in the back seat with the children in her foster family helps her to settle down.

Suzette continues to make progress with her house training. She sleeps during the night in a crate, usually needing to go out once to take care of her business. Her daytime potty breaks are still frequent to avoid accidents, but her foster family is now gaining awareness of potty break timing. They know, for example, that it’s time to go out after a play session with the resident Springer.

What’s most fascinating about Suzette is how she gets around and what her foster parents think is her sixth sense. She instinctively seeks out corners and little nooks in the house to lie down, finding them safe and comforting. Her favorite spots are the cat boxes (she’ll soon be too big for those!), or behind or under things. She likes to be under beds, under chairs, or just lounging in a corner. 

Suzette also continues to master her outside and inside environment. Previously, her cue to start climbing the stairs would be bumping into them and falling over the first one. She now takes her cue from what surrounds them. Outside, as soon as she transitions from grass to patio, she knows exactly how to get to the deck and can hit the steps in stride. Similarly, she can freely navigate the first level of the house and climb the steps to the second floor with ease. She’s now taken to going upstairs on her own to find the family cat, a large Maine coon. The two have definitely bonded a bit, and Suzette’s foster family often finds them cuddling together under a bed!

The last real challenge for Suzette is descending stairs. Once she masters that, it will be tough for her foster family to keep up with her!

While it may seem that life has thrown a huge roadblock in her way, this beautiful pup is responding by hurtling over it. Keep posted for more adventures of Suzette!

Original:

Suzette is an absolute ball of puppy cuteness! Her Delaware breeder relinquished her to MAESSR at 8 weeks old since she was born completely blind; she does not have any eyes. But, this doesn’t stop Suzette from acting every bit the puppy. She is playful, very loving, and when she’s tuckered herself out, can sleep just about anywhere. She is a good-looking dog, with beautiful black and white markings and big Springer paws. 

Obviously, being blind comes with its challenges. Her first order of business was to learn the layout of her new foster home. It took Suzette about a week to learn, but she can now freely navigate the first floor of her new home without bumping into too many things. If her foster parents can remember to keep things in their normal place, she’ll be ok. Her latest accomplishment has been to negotiate the steps to the deck out back. Her foster family can now take her out for a walk and not have to carry her back inside! 

Suzette has really made friends with the resident female Springer. The two spend considerable time playing together and Suzette really relies on her outside in the yard to get around. It’s really quite cute to see the puppy bounding along in the grass after her friend. A home with another patient dog would be really good for Suzette and she would be an absolute treat for kids. 

Suzette is getting used to her crate which is where she spends her time during the day when nobody is home. At night, she sleeps mostly in a gated portion of the kitchen. She is not yet housebroken, although her foster parents are working with her on it. 

Overall, Suzette is as cute as you’d imagine a Springer puppy to be. Her blindness will certainly be a challenge, but she’s shown in the short time that she’s been in foster care that she is more than capable of compensating for it. 

Watch for updates on this sweetie as she continues to grow and thrive!