The Unexpected Story of a Deaf, Blind, Pink Puppy and His Family
June 1, 2021
On March 4, 2017, at a Petco in Milford, Connecticut, Melissa Shapiro met the tiny, deaf, blind, pink puppy whom the world would come to know as Piglet. Rescued from a hoarding predicament, Piglet was the sickly runt of his litter and had been rejected at birth, causing emotional trauma. But Shapiro has been in training for years to help this dog in need, from her focus on becoming a veterinarian to how she and her husband worked as a team to raise their children to the six rescued dogs and four rescued birds already in their home. Sharing stories on social media about Piglet learning new skills and coping with challenges spreads the big impact of this small dog far beyond the Shapiro family. Educators and their students, animal advocacy groups, legions of social media friends, and now readers of this book will be inspired by Piglet. Full of serious factual details as well as creating an emotional bond with touches of sorrow and joy, this will make Piglet even more of a star.
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Starred review from August 13, 2021
When Connecticut-based veterinarian Shapiro is asked to foster a deaf and blind dog, she readily agrees. Because her life is so busy with family, career, birds, and six other dogs, giving this little puppy a permanent home is not a possibility--or so she tells herself. But soon she and Piglet form an unshakable bond, so, putting all reservations aside, Shapiro makes him an official family member. Thanks to Shapiro's love, dedication, and patience, Piglet's spirited personality emerges, as does his will to live a full happy life. Piglet now visits classrooms, teaching children about acceptance and encouraging them to follow his example when facing adversity. Shapiro's first foray into writing is occasionally uneven, but with a story this heartwarming, that is easily overlooked. The memoir chronicles the challenges Piglet presented initially, the family's indecision about keeping him, how they bonded, Shapiro's training methods, and how Piglet eventually became a social media sensation, motivating hundreds of thousands of followers each day. VERDICT Shapiro and Piglet's uplifting odyssey, cowritten by Eichler-Rivas (The Pursuit of Happyness), is touching, emotional, and not to be missed.--Julie Whiteley, Stephenville, TX
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