Piglet, the deaf blind pink puppy�Melissa Shapiro, DVM

© Copyright 2025 Piglet International Inc, Melissa Shapiro, DVM�Piglet International Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

The Story of Piglet, the deaf blind pink puppy�Part 2

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

I am thankful that I have three out of the five senses

I use my nose to SMELL food, friends, toys, and chewy sticks. I also use my nose to map and track my way around.

I use my sense of TOUCH to feel the floor, hugs and pets by friends, and rough play contact with the other dogs.

I use my tongue to TASTE everything in my path.

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

Smell: I pretty much see with my nose!

I use my sense of smell to recognize my friends, different foods, and special places I’ve been. Most people are surprised that I recognize them by sniffing their nose and mouth. Of course, I also give kisses!

My amazing sense of smell allows me to find my way around my house, yard, and even new places.

When I’m playing with the other dogs, I have an idea where they are by smelling their breath.

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

Piglet greeting a good friend with smell

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

I love my sense of touch

I use my sense of touch to help me “map” out rooms in our house, the backyard (grass) and back steps (slate and wood), and fun places we visit, like the veterinary hospital and the bank. My pink paw pads detect changes on the ground and floor which helps me recognize and know where I am.

I also love to feel loving hands petting and hugging me, assuring me that I am safe.

Touch

PIGLET MINDSET®

Piglet and the Three Senses

I also use my sense of taste to learn about my environment. Most puppies chew toys, shoes, chair legs… I did the same. Especially when I was a tiny baby, everything went into my mouth.

Using my sense of taste is fine when I’m kissing my friends and eating food and treats. But tasing is not such a great thing when I am chewing shoes, eating leaves and grass outside, or chewing the kitchen floor. But these are things all puppies do!

Tasting my way through the day

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

Piglet before and after dinner

I love my daily routine. I feel most comfortable when I know what to do.

I sit and wait before going into my eating crate. And I sit and wait when I come out of the crate after eating.

Note- these videos show Piglet when he was very young. This was his routine which helped him settle and know what to expect during each day.

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

My mom taught me to go up our back stairs

Going up stairs required me to learn where the stairs are relative to the rest of our yard. I learned the feel of the stone/slate at the bottom of the steps and to poke the front of the bottom step with my nose to get started up.

Then I learned to poke each stair, so I knew where to jump up to the next step.

And finally, I learned the feel of all 5 stairs so I could just run up without hesitating. I know where the back door is so I can run into the house to see my dad.

Touch

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

Running up the stairs

With a lot of practice on the stairs, now I run up with confidence! Thank you to my grandfather who customized the back stairs to keep me safe.

Notice how I find the doormat which is a landmark for me to know where the door to go inside is!

Touch

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

​

Discussion Question:

How does Piglet use the senses he has to be successful as a dog?

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

Another obstacle I had to face was exercising safely

Like all puppies, I love to run around, but I needed to figure out how to avoid running into everything.

I finally learned how to hold onto my favorite toys to play tug. This was difficult in the beginning because I was so small. Now I hang on tightly and trust the person on the other end of the tug toy to keep me from crashing into anything.

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

Piglet playing tug in the kitchen and outside

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

I also like to race around in our backyard

Playing in the backyard takes careful planning because I don’t want to run into anything and hurt myself. My family keeps the yard clear of obstacles.

I use the stairs that I learned as a reference point, and I come back to them and tap the bottom with my feet, so I know where I am.

I run in bigger and bigger circles, faster and faster, coming back to tap the slate each time I go around. This is a lot of fun!

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

Piglet tapping the stairs and racing around the yard�Notice how Piglet centers his play around the slate at the bottom of the stairs. This helped him learn the yard when he was very young. He doesn’t need to do this anymore.

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

Piglet plays in the yard and then heads inside

After months of practice, I got pretty good at the yard and stairs. It’s still important to keep things consistent for me because I will bang into things that I’m not expecting to be in my path.

I can be very silly when playing outside now that I’m comfortable with the area near the back door and the further out in the yard.

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

Taking a walk with the other dogs turned out to be much easier than expected

When I’m walking on a leash, I trust that the person at the other end of the leash will keep me from running into anything that will hurt me.

After a few times up and down the same road, I learn the lay of the land with my senses of smell and touch, and sometimes I find myself leading my mom and sisters on our walk. I know how to map out my surroundings. Once I learn an area, I remember for the next time I’m there.

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

Piglet taking a walk

I used to take the long walks like the other dogs, but now I prefer to sit in my stroller and come out at the end to sniff around and stretch my legs.

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

I've made a lot of new friends

My friends at the vet hospital hold me so I can give them kisses, and sometimes they give me treats.

My tail wags and I get very wiggly when I “run into” someone I know.

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

Piglet and Zoey Trick or Treating

We love to visit our friend Monica at Norwalk Veterinary Hospital because she gives us treats.

This was a special occasion, so we got dressed up as pumpkins!

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

Piglet with his BFF

Monica has always been my best friend ☺

It was such an awesome surprise when she came to visit me at my house!

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

During the day, I always take time to rest and nap

During the day I take naps in my crate or in my cocoon beds in the kitchen.

If my dad is home, I might get to take a nap on his lap.

I am a burrower, so I prefer to snuggle in a cocoon bed or to have a blanket over me.

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

After a long day of running, playing, working, visiting, and eating, I go to sleep!

At night, I love to snuggle in bed with my mom and dad, Zoey, and Annie.

Probably because I can’t hear, I sleep very soundly throughout the whole night. I’m definitely not an early riser.

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

I'm very lucky to have been rescued by my family

I found an amazing home where I am loved for who I am. My mom and dad, and my dog pack, help me to far exceed expectations for a tiny, deaf, blind, pink puppy.

Unfortunately, there are many others like me in shelters and rescues. They are looking for a good home like I have already found.

I live with a group of 6 beautiful rescued dogs. They understand that I have limitations, so they treat me with extra gentle kindness.

They accept me for who I am and include me in all their activities. That’s why we call them Piglet’s Kindness Club!

Piglet’s Kindness Club

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

Note: Piglet’s pack has had some changes since this early story was created. Be sure to look further into our program to meet new members of Piglet's pack!

When I was adopted, my mom decided that I should have a productive, meaningful life.

So, she made a Facebook page, Instagram account, and a YouTube channel, and a website. Then she made me a mission.

Piglet's mission

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

Advocate for and support rescued animals through education and Piglet’s Rescue Fund

Inspire and motivate others to adopt pets with disabilities and special needs

Facilitate Piglet Mindset Educational Program to teachers, students, and others in the community

Encourage Positivity, Inclusion, and Kindness through the example of Piglet’s Inclusion Pack (Piglet’s pack of 8 rescued dogs)

Distribute Piglet Comes Home children’s book through Piglet’s Book Donation Program

Piglet's mission

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

​

Reading response journal:

• What is a character trait to describe Piglet? Draw a picture and explain.
• What is a mission (purpose) that you could work towards �to make the world a better place? Draw a picture and explain.

Relevant reading response journal and related activities

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

​

Poster activity

• Create a "What is a Piglet Mindset?" class poster.
• Each student should contribute a word that describes �Piglet’s positive attitude towards his challenges and �his life!

Prepare for more Piglet Mindset throughout the year!

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

​

Headband with Piglet ears activity

Felt Piglet ears glued to hair bands sit for students to take when they need a little help getting into a “Piglet State of Mind”.

​

• Piglet Ear Head Band - click the link above for the Piglet Ears Headband template
• Kids can decorate and wear their Piglet ears headband during �class activities, a Piglet visit, or a Piglet Pink Party.
• They can be worn during Piglet Mindset discussions!

Prepare for more Piglet Mindset throughout the year!

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

​

"Ambassador of the Week" activity

Similar to Student of the Week

​

• Purchase a few shirts in different sizes to have for the "Piglet Mindset Ambassador" to wear one day in the week
• The Piglet Mindset Ambassador is chosen by the teacher or class to be a leader for growth mindset activities during the week
• The student exemplifies a Piglet Mindset with a positive attitude and kindness towards their classmates

​

E-mail pinkpigletpuppy@gmail.com for info on purchasing/obtaining

t-shirts, buttons, and stickers for students.

Introduce the Piglet Mindset "Ambassador of the Week"

Signed copies, and signed bookplates available

Visit PigletMindset.org for details

PIGLET MINDSET®

The Story of Piglet

Piglet book activities

PIGLET: The unexpected story

Adult book available in hardcover, e-book, audiobook, large print, paperback

Piglet Comes Home

Picture book for children

​

Book activities:

• Read Piglet's adult book to the class chapter by chapter to tell the complete story of Piglet and his family, with editing as needed
• Read Piglet Comes Home, an adorable picture book for elementary school aged children
• Students can read it on their own or it can be read aloud with discussion
• It makes a great end of year or holiday take-home gift

E-mail: pinkpigletpuppy@gmail.com

Facebook: Piglet, the deaf blind pink puppy

Website: PigletMindset.org

Instagram: @pinkpigletpuppy

YouTube: Piglet, the deaf blind pink puppy

People Magazine Online Article

The Dodo videos:

Piglet’s video Impact video Little but Fierce

Piglet Mindset Visit to 3^rd Grade Class in Massachusetts

Info about double dapple & double merle dogs:

https://www.doublemerles.info

Piglet International Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation

​

Resources and links

Piglet International Inc.�Melissa Shapiro, DVM

© Copyright 2024 Piglet International Inc, Melissa Shapiro, DVM�Piglet International Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.