PIRATE GRAYSON | BUY THIS PRINT
After her first Dalmatian passed away, Mary Ellen M. began looking into adopting another Dal. Researching the breed, she learned that around 25 percent of Dals are born deaf and that many breeders put their deaf puppies down. Upon discovering this, she decided to rescue a deaf Dalmatian. However, every breeder she contacted gave her the same speech: “deaf Dalmatians are put down as soon as deafness is detected; they are aggressive; they don’t make good pets; it’s in the Dalmatian Club of America bylaws to euthanize deaf puppies, etc.” Some breeders said this politely, while others chastised her for even thinking of adopting a deaf dog.
She at last found a breeder who was willing to give her a deaf male from the latest litter. However, when Mary Ellen talked to her again, the woman said she “searched her soul” and, in the end, could not let him be adopted; she had had him killed. Mary Ellen was devastated, but even more determined to help save a deaf dog from the same fate.
A deaf Dal in Georgia came to her attention, and, through the help of Deaf Paws Haven, the dog was brought to New York to live with Mary Ellen. In contrast to the many warnings given to her about deaf dogs, Mary Ellen has found Pirate to be “no different than any other dog.” Pirate Grayson, named for the patch over his eye and the town in Georgia that he came from, keeps everyone laughing with his antics. He loves to jump on the sink to keep Mary Ellen company while she brushes her teeth and thinks nothing of jumping over baby gates she has placed throughout her home to keep the dogs out of certain rooms. Handsome Pirate was Mary Ellen’s first deaf dog, but not her last. “There’s never a dull moment when Pirate is around! He is the best dog I have ever had.”
Pirate is featured in the dog photo book Deaf Dogs, part of the photo book projects series.
This print of Pirate is part of the limited edition Portrait Series from the photo book projects.
This print is offered at the introductory price for the first 48 hours after this blog posts. Afterwards the price goes up to its normal price.
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