Photo Of Blind, Deaf Dog 'Trampled' In Shelter Inspired Woman To Act

Emily Malmstrom, a Minnesota-based animal lover, has transformed her passion into a lifeline for dogs in dire need by offering up services as a fosterer.

After coming across an image of Ferrah, a rescue dog that had been living in a Missouri shelter, Malmstrom knew that she had to act once more to help support the dog's transition from a shelter environment to a stable family home.

Malmstrom spoke with Newsweek about her decision to offer the dog—who was initially believed to be both deaf and blind—a second chance at life.

Ferrah had been struggling for survival in an overcrowded Missouri shelter for an unknown time. Her plight had caught the attention of Coco's Heart Dog Rescue, a foster-based, volunteer-driven organization that partners with shelters to alleviate overcrowding and provide animals with the care they need.

Alongside 20 other dogs from the Missouri shelter, Ferrah was transported to Wisconsin where volunteers hoped she'd be able to find refuge in a foster home.

Malmstrom, who has been fostering dogs since March 2023 following the adoption of her own dog, Bunny, was moved by a grainy photo of Ferrah shared on the rescue's Facebook group and felt compelled to house her for one week.

"She immediately pulled at my heartstrings and I wanted to give her a safe place to land; she had been through enough and deserved a warm bed in a loving home," Malmstrom told Newsweek.

"She had been located in an overcrowded shelter where she was being trampled by all of the other dogs."

Despite initial beliefs about her sensory impairments, Malmstrom's first encounter with Ferrah at the kennel was unexpectedly hopeful.

"As I approached, I saw her start wagging her tail and I thought, 'Okay, this is great, she can see me approaching, she isn't completely blind.'"

The surprises continued as Malmstrom discovered that Ferrah could also hear, debunking the initial assessment of her conditions.

During her one week with Malmstrom, Ferrah not only adjusted well to her new environment and to her temporary owner's existing dog, Jolene, but she also thrived, showing significant signs of sensory capabilities.

"After some experimenting with squeaker toys and dogs barking on the TV, we knew that she could hear, and her seamless transition into my house also told me that she could see," Malmstrom said.

Ferrah's story is a testament to the transformative impact of rescue organizations and the foster system. In a short time, the dog has gone from living a precarious life in a shelter to finding solace in a temporary home with Malmstrom, before finally moving on to a permanent foster home where she currently lives with other dog and cat siblings.

"I already had one foster dog, Jolene, who is a special medical needs golden retriever, who I've been fostering since the beginning of January. Because of Jolene's needs, and surgery that she was having in early April, I knew that realistically it wasn't possible for me to foster both Jolene and another dog with additional needs for an extended period of time," Malmstrom said.

"Thankfully, there was another fosterer who had experience with deaf dogs who was able to take Ferrah in, but couldn't take her until a week after she arrived to rescue."

"This worked out perfectly for me, because I could take Ferrah home when she arrived from Missouri and she spent her first week at my house," she added.

Reflecting on the experience, Malmstrom emphasized the importance of animal rescues.

"I look back to the grainy photo from the shelter and I don't even recognize that dog. She is a perfect example of why rescue matters, and that the dog you see in the shelter is not the dog you will have at home," the fosterer explained.

Ferrah, who once faced bleak prospects back in Missouri, is now poised for adoption, ready to enrich the lives of her future owners.

Coco's Heart Dog Rescue, the organization that facilitated Ferrah's rescue, continues to be a beacon of hope for many animals like her.

Malmstrom (@catmom214) had shared Ferrah's story to TikTok on April 4, in a hope to not only spotlight the dog's journey to a happier life but also bring well-deserved recognition to the rescue efforts that make such transformations possible.

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