Though she be but little, she is fierce! Our pint-sized princess, Trixie, has leapt all kinds of proverbial hurdles in her journey toward health and healing. Now, there’s just one thing left to do, find this very special girl a forever home of her own. Could it be yours?

Trixie arrived at FBRN under sad circumstances, as her former owner was struggling with personal issues and could not provide the extensive care this sweet girl needed. At her intake, Trixie was only 13 pounds and extremely malnourished. On top of that, her skin was terribly irritated with bald patches to boot, and her bat-ears were packed with wax. And did we mention that Trixie is blind? Both her retinas detached when she was only one year old, so Trixie relies on her other senses to navigate the world around her.

Trixie’s (many) trips to the vet resulted in a laundry list of diagnoses, which explained the sorry state she was in. She was initially diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome and colitis, with severe internal ulcers. Further examination revealed a hiatal hernia and pyloric hypertrophy, a condition where abnormal thickening of the stomach’s pylorus muscles leads to gastric outlet obstruction. On top of this, Trixie’s vet suspects that she has a malabsorption issue, meaning that her GI system does not absorb nutrients as well as it should. With all this, it’s no wonder that she was just skin and bones! And it’s even all the more miraculous that Trixie is now a healthy 20 pounds (20.2, if we’re being exact). A special diet along with medicine and supplements have greatly improved her GI health and ability to hold food down, although she still suffers from occasional flare-ups and regurgitation. These tummy troubles are a lifelong condition, and Trixie’s new family must commit to her current dietary and medicinal regimen (and also not be bothered by the occasional burp).

Trixie also suffers from miliary dermatitis, an allergic reaction that causes areas of small, raised crusts on the skin. She has responded well to medicated baths, although we can’t say that she’s a big fan of them and most of her bald patches are now covered in new hair growth. Trixie continues to get small pustules on her skin that occasionally itch, but the difference between her condition at intake is night and day. Like her GI issues, Trixie’s skin problems are chronic and will require ongoing treatment to keep her itch-free and comfortable.

Trixie’s specialty veterinarian also noted nystagmus, which is rapid and involuntary movement of the eyes. This may be a symptom of hydrocephalus (a buildup of fluid in the brain). Currently, this does not cause Trixie any problems, but it is something her adopters should be aware of or future monitoring. In addition, Trixie’s daily Prednisone (steroid) dose means that at present, she cannot be vaccinated. It also causes her to pee more often than most dogs, so regular trips to the outdoor loo are a must. The goal is to wean her off the Predisone as she heals, but that may take some time.

Speaking of eyes, those beautiful bright ones on Trixie are for decorative purposes only. Since Trixie has been blind since puppyhood, she has become very skilled at navigating her way around through use of her other senses. However, it does take her some time to learn new environments, so has a halo harness to keep her from bonking her noggin when she visits unknown places. Trixie’s blindness has also made her a Velcro dog to the nth, degree. She wants her humans within touching (or sniffing) distance at all times. Although she can be left unattended in a safe spot for a few hours at a time, she cannot be crated, as she will injure herself trying to escape. Fortunately, Trixie is an easy dog to scoop up and carry places, and she loves riding shotgun in the car!

Trixie’s list of ailments is admittedly a long one, but once she’s settled into a home with her humans, it’s easy to forget how much she’s overcome. She navigates her current foster home with ease, and wants nothing more than to be with her people 24-7. Her favorite things include sunbeams, snuggle sessions, leisurely leashed walks, and fluffing her favorite bed so that it’s juuuuust right.

The ideal home for Trixie is one with loving, patient people who are ready to meet the challenges (and rewards!) of caring for a dog who needs a little extra. What Trixie needs above all is consistency. She can adapt to just about any environment, but her anxiety and lack of vision means it will take her some time to get there. Once she’s settled in, however, she is a surprisingly easy dog! She is housetrained (although the Prednisone may result in the occasional pee accident), leash-trained, and loves every single person she meets. And she’s not a barker, although she may let out a little bork or yelp if she wants in on whatever it is her people are doing (especially if it’s sleeping on the person bed. Trixie expects, nay demands that there be room for her up there!) Speaking of people, Trixie isn’t picky about them, although her best match would be someone who works from home or could take her to the office every day. And while she is sweet as sugar with children of all ages, she would be best off in an environment with dog-savvy older kids, who know not to leave toys or other hazards on the floor that she could stumble over. Trixie does not currently live with any other dogs, but we think she’d be okay with a gentle, mellow canine companion to show her the ropes. Since she has never been exposed to cats, and because sudden movements can make her nervous, we have to say no kitties or other small pets.

We’ll let Trixie’s foster mom take it from here: “If Trixie were a human girly, she would drive a custom pink Barbie Jeep while blasting Pink Pony Club all around town. BUT she is just a little blind doggo, so she needs you to do the driving. Luckily, she is a professional shotgun rider and wants nothing more than to be your passenger at all times. Also she looks ridiculously beautiful in pink.

“On paper, she may seem like a lot of work but she really is worth the effort. We have watched her beat the odds and grow into a curious little bean who loves a good sun spot and will even trot around the yard once she learns her parameters. She will stretch out on her belly and do yoga poses for scritches. Her favorite spot is on the couch next to you, or in her (appropriately fluffed) dog bed on the floor beside you.

“She just needs someone who can provide patience and consistency. She will need a close veterinary relationship for her chronic GI symptoms. She needs a special diet and needs to wear her halo apparatus until she learns her surroundings. It’s tough living in the dark but she does not let her limitations stop her. This girl has no quit in her.

“Above all, Trixie longs to be near her people. It will take time for her to get comfy with you, but she will. At first, she will run into absolutely every single thing. But eventually, you’ll forget she is blind and so will she. You’ll have to remind yourself and others that she may need extra sensory assistance to safely navigate.

“This girly has special needs that require extra care. With time, she will surprise you with her adaptability and she will reward you with sweet lovin’s, kisses, and general adorableness. She is ready to be someone’s bestie for the resty!”

If that doesn’t convince you, we don’t know what will! If you think you’ve got what it takes to be Trixie’s happily ever after, then please fill out an application to adopt. Just be prepared to travel – Trixie is sunning herself and cheering on the Pacers in the lovely state of Indiana, and will not be shipped.

FBRN dogs are in foster care in people’s private homes. For the foster families’ safety, we do not disclose specific locations, and we don’t set up meet and greets prior to applications. For detailed information about the dogs in our care, please read the extensive bios on each dog.