My dog is deaf because his fur lacks the pigmentation that was needed for his hearing to develop.
Simply, put, it's because he's white.
Target is also not a double merle. Before anybody private messages me and asks:
Yes, I know for sure.
I know for sure because I met his parents (a number of times). His sire is black and white and Target inherited his giant forehead. His father also fathered at least 12 black and white brothers and sisters, a pretty strange genetic phenomenon if both his parents are merle. Which has to be the case for him to be considered "double merle".
No, the breeder didn't do some kind of weird bait and switch dog dad deal where she had one dog posing as the father and actually had another dog do the deed.
We were all busy people with absolutely no time for that kind of Maury Povich style, dog debauchery.
This doesn't mean there wasn't a problem somewhere. While Target was the only deaf puppy from the first litter, in Comet's litter there were two deaf puppies. This takes it out of the category we had it in, which was "just as fluke".
When there was talk of a third litter and when I opposed it, with no change to the breeder's opinion, I broke all contact with her. When people ask I tell the truth as far as I know it and that's this:
My dogs were well loved in her care.
They spent the first few weeks of their lives with a family that adored them.
Their mother saw a vet and got amazing care while she was pregnant.
Both of my dogs' parents were family pets.
That doesn't mean in any way that I agree with the decision to keep having puppies with the potential for deafness but if you're looking for a cause to be angry, this isn't it.
Be angry at the fact that puppies like Target are culled at birth, sometimes before tests can even be run to prove deafness is present. They aren't worth the vet bills on a puppy farm.
Be angry that breeders still mate two merle dogs to ensure fancy coloring and that some people still willingly buy these fancy puppies knowing full well where they came from.
When you're done being angry (because that's really no fun and not getting the world anywhere), plan what you want to do about it. Go volunteer at your local shelter, adopt a special needs or senior dog (as long as you're financially and emotionally prepared to deal with it!) or go help out or support a fundraiser for animals.
(Start a blog about your special needs dog in a raw, cathartic and sometimes humorously sarcastic tone... I've heard that's fun...)
I have had the luxury of my time to be angry. I have a deep and meaningful connection to a creature who already didn't speak my language, with the deafness he might as well be from another planet. It's frustrating and pathetic that he's this sensitive because of his deafness and the person he trusts most in this world can't do a damn thing about it.
But, I could spend time being angry, or I could take the words that social media tells me was Ghandi (really not Ghandi...), that pops up in my news feed every second day and be the change I want to see in this world.
Just saying, from experience, working on the things I can change seems easier than changing everybody else. But, that's your choice isn't it? I've made mine.
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