Rudolph was born deaf and blind in a puppy mill in Ohio. He was adopted by a few different families, but they didn’t know what to do with him given his disabilities, so he just lived in a cage. Then Marcia Fishman rescued him and changed his life. She’s also wrote a childrens’ story about Rudolph, Rudolph’s Nose Knows.
Now Rudolph is helping teach children about what it’s like to live with a disability. He’s quite similar to most dogs in some ways—he knows how to sit, lie down, & walk on a leash—but instead of using sight to get around, he uses his sense of smell. Rudolph’s story is also encouraging students to read. I hope it also opens people’s eyes to the possibility of adopting a special needs animal.