30/08/2021
Remi here! I told you I was “special” because I am a double merle, but do you know what a double merle is or what it means? I sure didn’t. I thought I was like every other doggo, but the smart humans at Muddy Paws Second Chance Rescue, Inc are helping me understand what makes me unique.
What The Heck is A Double Merle?
In certain breeds of dog, there is a coat pattern known as 'merle'. It’s sometimes referred to as a color, but is actually due to a gene that alters the way pigment appears in a dog's coat. The merle coat pattern is popular because it is unusual and very unique, with each merle dog having a different coat pattern.
Unfortunately, there are health problems associated with the merle mutation and the risk of these problems occurring increases when two merle coated dogs are mated together. The resulting litter of puppies has a high chance of containing 'double merle' dogs that have very little or no color to their coat at all. Double merles are highly likely to suffer from eye or ear deformities (in some cases both), which at the most extreme, can result in complete blindness and deafness. Needless to say, the deliberate breeding of double merles causes a lot of controversy in the canine world.
So how has being a double merle affected me?
I wish I could talk and tell you! But I’m not 100% certain, just yet. The shelter I was at said that I was deaf and partially blind, but since I’ve been with a family the last few days, they speculate that I can hear and see better than anyone thought because I react to sounds and sights.
I’m not worried though because my new Foster Family will figure out my strengths and weaknesses so I can be matched with the perfect family!
A disability is only what you make of it, right?
With Love, Remi ❤️
