Star and Denver are two terrier mix siblings who give a whole new meaning to sibling love.
While the two puppies look like they are the perfect, regular, and healthy dogs who love to play, there is something unique about them. Upon closer observation, they have a different way with playtime. Star is a special needs dog: she is deaf and almost entirely blind. But with the help of her brother Denver, she gets to try to live an almost normal life.
Her brother is always attentive to her needs. He acts as a guide for her, checking to make sure she’s doing alright. In return, Star knows she is safe as long as her brother is around. Even if she is independent and seems unaware of her disability, Denver is still always present to protect her.
The social media manager at the Helen Woodward Animal Center says that Denver will run over to check in with her when she seems lost. Besides being her protector, he is her constant playmate; they tumble, play with rope toys, and chew on stuffed toys. When they get tired, they sleep together too.
Dogs have such great instincts, especially when it comes to their kind. Denver is ever so vigilant with his sister—he has to make sure she’s always nearby. Because of her disability, Denver does this by nudging her, and they use their oversensitive sense of smell to trace each other’s whereabouts.
The siblings came to the Helen Woodward Animal Center with the help of strangers. Two people found Star and Denver with their mother and six siblings, dumped somewhere in Louisiana. The couple took them in until the puppies were done nursing and called for assistance so a shelter could take them in.
Two thousand miles later, they arrived in San Diego last February. Posts by the Helen Woodward Animal Center about the touching story of the two caught social media users’ attention, particularly Sheri and Art Armenbdariz. They were more than willing to give these two a new life and a permanent family. The couple adopted the siblings in March.
In an exciting twist, an anonymous donor who was touched by the pair’s story covered their adoption fee plus a year’s supply of dog food!
The shelter staff gave them a send-off party, complete with balloons and a giant card signed by everybody.
It looks like their story is the perfect example of how beautiful it is always to pay it forward.
Credits: Helen Woodward Animal Center