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Update on Biala

Update on Biala

Update on Biala

The story of a “lethal white” mini aussie…

In February of 2014, Sharon Stone, Operations Manager for In Defense of Animals’ Hope Animal Sanctuary received a plea for help.  A family came home and found a female dog giving birth in a chair on their porch.  They brought the mom into their home and made her a warm bed in their laundry room where she gave birth to 5 precious puppies.  After an exhaustive search for her guardians failed, they asked for our help.

Biala, was one of the puppies born that cold day.  She is known as a double merle or lethal white, which is caused from breeding a merle to a merle. This syndrome can occur in all or some puppies in a litter. Many times breeders knowingly breed a merle to merle hoping that the puppies will be the same merle as the parents.  They are willing to roll the dice and take a chance that some of the puppies will be lethal white..Lethal white puppies are born deaf or blind and typically both deaf and blind.  Often double merle puppies are killed shortly after birth, while at other times breeders advertise them as “rare” and sell them at a discounted price.

Biala was born both deaf and blind.  Her eyes simply never developed fully causing her eyeballs to be very small.  She is one of the lucky puppies with this syndrome, adopted by a family that understood the challenges that were ahead.  Recently, her family on the advice of their veterinarian, had to make the difficult decision to remove her eyes.  Because her eyeballs were small,  her eyelids were turned inward, with her lashes sitting on the eyeballs and causing constant infections and pain for her. Biala has recovered from her surgery and her mom reports that she is back to her normal, happy self.  She goes on to say:

“She is back to being her happy self, still loves taking walks, loves finding bodies of water to splash around in, still is my shadow throughout the day.  I call her “Pink” because of her pink face, which is so beautiful.  Several times a day I look down and say “You found me, Pink!”  because that’s what she does all day…

She is so special to me that I cry as I type this.  I can’t even put into words.  But I will try by sharing a picture and I am pretty sure that you understand.

I know that in dog rescue, it is so hard.  The people can be difficult!  And the dogs are not able to say “THANK YOU.”  So I’m trying to say a thousand thank yous to you.  Never forget what a profound difference you have made in the lives of so many dogs, and what a gift you have given to so many humans.

So much love,”

Biala was lucky, but many of these double merle puppies have a very different outcome.  You can help stop indiscriminate breeding by always adopting from shelters or rescue groups, and sterilizing your own animal companions.  Note that if there is no market for these puppies, breeders will stop.   Remember, adopt, don’t shop!

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