We had hoped Claude would live long enough to meet this little girl, but he died two days before Blanca arrived at the ranch. And if you're doing a double-take, it's because she's a Great Dane puppy, too, who looks uncannily like him. She's also the exact same age -- 4 months -- that Claude was when he came to us. Like Claude, she was born with microphthalmia, which means her eyeballs are malformed and not functional. She's completely blind in her left eye (there really isn't anything there) but she can see -- we think -- shapes and shadows from her shrunken right eye. She's also completely deaf.
When Blanca's owner in Guadalajara, Mexico, asked us a few weeks ago if we could take Blanca, we knew that Claude wouldn't have much longer to live. So we thought it would be a wonderful way to honor him by letting another blind Great Dane puppy take his place. We just wanted him to still be with us when she arrived, but that was not to be.
Blanca was one of 18 puppies born on April 1st to a Great Dane named Manta. Manta's owner is Rosanna M., an American citizen living in Guadalajara. Rosanna had hoped to keep the beautiful white puppy she named Luna, but finally concluded that she didn't have the right environment to care for a puppy with these kinds of disabilities. In Guadalajara, Rosanna's options were limited. Even the veterinary ophthalmologist she took the puppy to see had said Rosanna should put the dog down.
Rosanna and I spent a lot of time these past couple of weeks trying to figure out how to fly the puppy out of Mexico and up to Montana. It's not easy! Most of the U.S. airlines flying out of Guadalajara or nearby Puerto Vallarta either wouldn't transport animals from Mexico, or they stopped first in places like Los Angeles, meaning you have to clear customs, then re-book the animal for the onward journey. Finally an Alaska Airlines employee told me that Aeromexico had a flight from Guadalajara to Seattle and would transport animals.
So Rosanna called Aeromexico, booked a ticket for herself and the baby Dane, and on Saturday a week ago they flew to Seattle. On Sunday, Rosanna drove over to our old neighborhood in Bellevue to drop the puppy off with a wonderful friend of ours, Bindy O., who does pet sitting and also works in our former veterinary clinic. Bindy took great care of this little girl for us all of last week. Then yesterday, another set of Seattle friends and supporters of the sanctuary, Jan R. and Wayne S., brought her out to Montana for us.
(And that's not all they brought out. Jan and Wayne stopped in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, to pick up two more animals for us who came from the Panhandle Animal Shelter in Sandpoint. But I'm saving those two for tomorrow's blog post!)
Although we liked the name 'Luna,' we already have an animal with the same name ... our blind mare Luna from Colorado ... so we decided to call this adorable puppy Blanca. Because she's deaf, it doesn't really matter to her, but it will keep us from getting confused!
I will admit that when I saw Blanca for the first time yesterday, I teared up. She looks so much like Claude when he was that age that you could mistake them for twins. But this is how the 'circle of life' goes for us: We lose one young life on Thursday, and on Saturday another young life arrives.
(Click on photos for larger image.)
Hi - Blanca is beautiful as was Claude! There is a wonderful book about a deaf Great Dane, also white in coloring, written by Dan Dye called "Amazing Gracie". She was the inspiration for their starting the Three Dog Bakery which still makes wonderful natural doggie biscuits.
Thanks so much to Alayne and Steve for the wonderful work they do for the animals we all love!
Posted by: Linda Miller | September 25, 2007 at 10:33 PM
G'day!
I'm Kilda's owner, I kept one of Blanca's sisters as well. I promise to send you soon a picture of her.
Mainly, I am glad to thank you all for the opportunity that you gave Blanca to keep on going. Great leasson we all learned from your ranch project and Rossanna's effort.
Posted by: Alberto Orozco | August 17, 2007 at 12:29 AM
Hello, I'm Grob's owner (Blanca's dad) we kept one of blanca's brothers (also deaf but not blind) and we're so gratefull for the opportunity that you gave her to have a great home, we hope we can visit you soon...
Posted by: Maria Mugica | August 15, 2007 at 11:55 PM
What a beautiful girl! Rosanna did the right thing by sending her to your ranch where she will be cared for and loved. Welcome to the best place to live, Blanca!
Posted by: Nina | August 15, 2007 at 09:20 PM
I have no doubt that now Blanca has two angels, Claude and Manta (her mother that died the same day that the vet told me I needed to put down Blanca). Thank you so much for adopting her, she`s a beautiful dog! And thanks to everyone that gave us support and helped with donations to get Blanca to her new home!
Posted by: Rosanna | August 15, 2007 at 12:52 PM
So true about the "Circle of Life" WELCOME beautiful Blanca it does our heart good!
It's the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of Life
Peace and love to Claude!
Posted by: Shirley & James | August 14, 2007 at 12:55 AM
I just couldn't believe it when I saw these pics - for a minute I thought perhaps I was looking at some old pics of Claude that you may have posted. And just for a split second, I thought perhaps it had all been a mistake, and Claude was still here with us all. But no, it is beautiful Blanca, full of new life. Almost like this is Claude's second chance. I agree with an earlier post; Claude will be Blanca's special angel.
Posted by: Heidi & the kitties | August 13, 2007 at 09:22 PM
Just goes to show - God never closes a door without opening a window! God bless Mr. Claude at the Bridge, who I am sure is watching over the new girl who has taken his spot, but never his place in your heart.
And welcome to beautiful Blanca!
Posted by: Lisa | August 13, 2007 at 08:30 PM
Welcome sweet girl! You could not have found a better forever home!! You'll be surrounded by so much love from not only your new mom and dad but from all your new furry friends.I'm sure Claude is looking down from heaven welcoming you to the best place on earth!!
Posted by: Beverly | August 13, 2007 at 05:21 PM
Is there a genetic relationship between whiteness and deafness and/or eye problems in Danes?
Posted by: Janet | August 13, 2007 at 03:24 PM
Welcome to the marvelous RDR Blanca! You've arrived at a fabulous place where you're going to recieve lots of love, the best of care & have a grand life! You'll soon meet you're new animal friends that are there & although you're taller that most of them, don't hold that against them. I'd love to be able to give you a big welcome hug, but since I'm so far away, I think Steve & Alayne will take care of that.
Big welcome hugs,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger & Tobias (the greythound) | August 13, 2007 at 12:53 PM
Welcome Blanca! She looks just like sweet Claude! My heart goes out to you on the loss of Claude...he had a short, but loving life with you on the ranch. I don't think it's a coincidence that Blanca looks so much like Claude...things happen for a reason and animals come and go from our lives for reasons too. Maybe Claude will live on in little Blanca. She's adorable!
Posted by: Sue H | August 13, 2007 at 12:52 PM
Man - it's Claude but in female form! Right on! Blanca has found her forever home with you guys and you're right with honoring Claude - he would have "approved".
Posted by: Tracye J. | August 13, 2007 at 10:49 AM
She's a beauty! I was so saddened to hear of Claude's passing, yet there is certain symmetry to the timing of it all. However long or short these dogs' lives are doesn't really matter, it's how much they are loved while they're here. And there's no shortage of that at the ranch!
Posted by: Katy | August 13, 2007 at 10:26 AM
A warm welcome to Blanca! A very sweet name for a very sweet baby!
I'm sure Claude would have loved to meet Blanca, but he's her special guardian angel now.
God bless you all!
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | August 13, 2007 at 10:00 AM
The Great Mandala, no doubt. She certainly will be "channeling" Claude soon enough. Welcome to RDR, "little" one, Blanca.
I can't wait for tomorrow's posts.
Posted by: Janet | August 13, 2007 at 09:57 AM
Blanca is stunning, just like Claude.
She's traveled more in a week than some people do in years!
Thanks to Rosanna for making a loving and responsible decision to ensure Blanca's life and care to RDR.
I hope Rosanna also makes the loving and responsible decision to spay Manta; Mexico has a huge animal population and it would be nice to give shelter animals a chance to get homes.
Enjoy your new great (Dane) bundle of joy!
Posted by: Boundforglory | August 13, 2007 at 09:31 AM
What a cute girl Blanca is! I hope she settles in well and can enjoy life on the ranch. Thanks for your facinating view into your animal sanctuary!
Posted by: Danielle Chonody | August 13, 2007 at 06:50 AM
What a pretty lady...wishing her a wonderful life with you and I'm sure she has a big, white, long-eared angel watching over her!
Posted by: Jessica, NL | August 13, 2007 at 06:47 AM
18 puppies! :o
Blanca is gorgeous - I look forward to reading her stories!
Posted by: Jenn | August 13, 2007 at 05:49 AM
She's simply adorable,may she bless your lives with lots of love, and joy, as we know that you are a blessing to her. It is a wonderful way to honor Claude.
Posted by: Lynn | August 13, 2007 at 12:35 AM