By Lori Fusaro

When I lived in New York City I wanted to adopt a cat. I dragged my reluctant husband to the local shelter to help me pick out our new family member. He didn’t have a cat growing up, so I really had to persuade him and I knew that if he helped chose the little kitty, it would be a much easier sell.

We were both overwhelmed with the number of kittens that needed homes. We walked by rows and rows of cages, each one housing two or three cats. My eye kept going to one cage in particular. Inside it was a tiny black ball of fur with one bright yellow eye staring back at me. This sweet little kitten was missing the other eye. I was silently willing my husband to stop by that cage and fall in love. Of course, he’s a softy, so once he saw her, that was the cat he wanted. One caveat we didn’t count on - the shelter didn’t want her to be adopted alone. Her littermate had to be adopted with her. So we walked out of there with two balls of fur, One-Eyed Jack and Pistol Pete.

Jackie really didn’t need much extra care. Her depth perception was off, so she had to compensate. She could stand on her hind legs seemingly forever, trying to judge heights and distances. She looked like a mini-Godzilla. She also had a really special bond with her sister, Petey. When we first brought them home Petey did a full investigation of our apartment and then went back to get Jackie. It was amazing to watch.

Jennifer Patton of Ugly Dog Adventures is currently fostering a special American bulldog named Jasmine, who is deaf. Patton says, “We communicate with her via hand signals. If she's sleeping, I'll tap her on the head gently then motion my hand for her to get up and come to where I am. In less than a month she knows hand commands for ‘sit,’ ‘shake,’ ‘stay,’ ‘come,’ no.’”  That’s amazing to me. Teka Ludovico, animal behavior specialist and owner of K9 Toddlers has become somewhat of an expert in training deaf dogs.

“Kai Nu came into my life as a foster since she's deaf,” Ludovico said. “We wanted to make sure she had proper socialization and basic training before putting her up for adoption. It didn't take long me to fall absolutely in love with her and decide to keep her.”

Crystal Christensen, foster program coordinator with Barks of Love Animal Rescue has also opened her heart and home to a special needs dog. She remembers, “We adopted Sadie from the Downey Shelter when she was three months old. Many vets will offer a free health check to any dog adopted from a shelter, so we took advantage of this. Sadie was diagnosed with a bad heart murmur and we were told she would most likely not live to see one year.”

Christensen was heartbroken, but couldn’t imagine giving her back to the shelter. She wanted to make sure whatever time she had was filled with love and proper care. “I am happy to say Sadie is now eight years old and can still run circles around dogs younger than her,” she says.

Carole Pearson, founder of Dawg Squad Rescue says, “I have a three-legged Rottweiler named Bernie. Our group specializes in those with special needs. At present we have a three-legged cane corso pup and a pit bull mix missing her left back paw. We have had blind dogs, deaf dogs, crippled dogs - you name it, we rescue it.” Because shelters are so full, these types of animals are the first in line to be euthanized.

Keeping Bernie and other pets with handicaps is not without problems. Medical issues can be expensive and it’s important to take that into consideration. Pearson says of Bernie, “He just needs more attention sometimes than the other dogs.” Christensen adds, “Daily medication can get expensive. But no amount of money can pay for the love and joy she gives us each and every day.” Dogs, even ones with problems can live many years and their care is a big commitment. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and make sure you are well informed. It’s much better to get all the facts before deciding to bring an animal with needs into your home.

Brittney Hervey, founder of the Sara Foundation, says “I named my rescue after my three-legged dog, Sara. When I saw her in the pound she looked very sad and scared. She had been hit by a car and lost her front left leg. I convinced my mother right then and there to bring her home.” From that moment, Hervey has helped many special-needs dogs. She wouldn’t have it any other way, saying, “Adopting a special-needs pet will change that pet’s life and hopefully yours too. They can teach you new things that you never realized. It definitely changed mine.”

Lori Fusaro has been voted the best portrait photographer by FoxTV two years in a row. She lives in Culver City with her husband, four cats and dog. Contact: Lori@FusaroPhotography.com, FusaroPhotography.com.