Old Dominion Humane Society Rescue Dog Meringue Doesn't Let Disabilities Slow Him Down

A royal dog wouldn’t have a sleeping area as nice as Old Dominion Humane Society (ODHS) rescue, Meringue’s. He has a playpen with a bed layered with blankets, where he lounges. A rug with the saying “There’s no place like home.” Less than 10 pounds, Meringue is 14 years old, blind and deaf, and he’s proven to be lovable, resilient and silly. Meringue, a sweet, playful and charming rescue, is available for adoption.

When Kylie Spoon, an Old Dominion Humane Society (ODHS) volunteer, picked up the little rescue dog last month, she was in for some big surprises. Less than 10 pounds, Meringue’s 14 years old, blind and deaf, and Spoon thought she was going to be providing care for a hospice patient. It turned out she was very wrong, and Meringue proved to be lovable, resilient and silly.

“When I brought him home, he seemed pretty pathetic—he’d mostly stand there or sleep,” said Spoon, of Spotsylvania. “Now, I feel like Meringue’s aging backward. When we gave him a good diet, a comfortable bed and a routine, he started to perk up.” If anybody thought his age, blindness and deafness would hinder Meringue from doing the things a normal dog would do, they’d be mistaken. In spite of his disabilities, he’s learned to climb up and down the stairs, never missing a beat. Spoon, a volunteer with ODHS for six years, has kept things in her house the same so he can be familiar with his surroundings. She even wears similar perfumes and lotions so Meringue’s familiar with her scent, and it’s worked well for the little foster.

Kylie Spoon (left), an Old Dominion Humane Society (ODHS) volunteer, and her daughter, Cadence Hijar, are fostering Meringue, a 14-year-old blind and deaf rescue. Meringue has learned to navigate the stairs, plays with Spoon’s four big dogs, is familiar with the family members and gets a chicken nugget treat a day. With a little pampering and love, the 10-pound furball has shown he’s the same as dogs without disabilities. The sweet, playful and charming rescue is available for adoption.

“He wags his tail when he smells me,” said Spoon. “He gets so excited and starts whining when he smells something he recognizes or wants to be picked up. We’ve learned he loves belly rubs and head scratches.”

To say Spoon and her family have pampered Meringue would be an understatement. He’s brought so much joy to the family that he gets one chicken nugget a day and becomes excited when he smells the treat. As far as outdoor exploring goes, her daughter, Cadence Hijar, makes sure he enjoys a ride in the basket attached to her bike. A royal dog wouldn’t have a sleeping area as nice as Meringue’s, either. He has a playpen with a bed layered with blankets, where he lounges. A rug with the saying “There’s no place like home,” adds to the décor.

Spoon said Meringue’s a good choice to foster, because he’s absolutely perfect—flaws and all. She said if anybody was to come to her house, they’d never know anything was different about the dog because he navigates so well and acts playful.

Meringue makes up for his disabilities in numerous ways, including his great house manners. He sleeps peacefully in his little pen and loves everyone he meets. An added bonus is that he gets along great with Spoon’s “four, big, crazy dogs.” She says it only took a few days for him to get acclimated, and nobody would ever know he’s deaf and blind. She admitted she even forgets that.

Spoon began fostering ODHS rescues when her dogs passed away. She’s known for specializing in dogs that are scared, helping to transform them into confident, happy pups that are ready for adoption. A lot of her fosters are like her own canines that love to play all day long seven days a week. Spoon’s dogs teach the fosters how to be pack dogs and have good manners.