At first glance, Star and Denver seem like perfectly normal 3-month-old puppies. The two terrier mix siblings love to play and explore; they rocket around the room, chasing toys and each other until they pass out together in bed.
But there is something very special about the way these two play. Star is deaf and almost entirely blind and it’s thanks to her brother’s loving attention she can live her life to the fullest.
Denver acts as a guide for Star, constantly checking on her to make sure she’s OK.
“When Star seems lost, Denver will run over to her and check in with her,” Jackie Kelleher, social media manager at the Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC), told The Dodo. “They like to play with each other, play tumble, play with rope toys and chew on stuffed toys.”
Denver is always vigilant when it comes to his sister, making sure she knows he’s nearby. “He does this by nudging her,” Kelleher said. “Star can also smell him and if she is lost, she will move around the room until she runs into him.”
While the pups are safe now, things could have turned out very differently had it not been for the kindness of strangers.
A couple stumbled across Star and Denver, who were dumped in a rural part of Louisiana, along with their mom and six siblings. The couple cared for the little family until the puppies finished nursing, and then arranged for a rescue to take the litter in.
The eight puppies traveled nearly 2,000 miles to San Diego, arriving at HWAC in early February. Since then, all but Star and Denver have found their forever homes.
Now, the rescue is hoping to find someone, preferably local, who can give these pups the care and attention they need. Star loves her independence and mostly seems unaware of her special needs — as long as her brother is there to protect her.
“When she moves to a new location, she moves very slowly putting one paw out cautiously in front of the other and she ‘maps’ out the area around her,” Kelleher said. “Denver will always be vigilant of her needs even while they are around humans.”
The two little pups are bonded for life, and can’t wait to share the love they have with the right family.
