Death Row Shelter Dog Surrendered for Being Blind and Deaf Finds Acceptance

A blind and deaf rescue dog who came scarily close to being euthanized is now happy living his best possible life.

Katrina Ross told Newsweek that Cowboy Campbell, or Campbell for short, was surrendered to an animal shelter by his breeder in 2018 for simply “being blind and deaf.”

“Sadly, he was in the shelter for three months and then placed on a euthanasia list—we saved him just in time,” she said.

Ross said they rescued Cowboy Campbell, whose distinctive name is a reference to the Glen Campbell song “Rhinestone Cowboy,” on the “very last day possible” before he was due to be put to sleep.

Each year, 6.3 million pets are surrendered to U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.

Cowboy Campbell could easily have ended up as just a number among those euthanasia statistics, but Ross, who was in the process of buying a house at the time, was determined to make him part of her new home.

“I felt so bad for him in the shelter, no one ever asked to meet him,” she said. “He would be housed with other puppies in his run and they’d get adopted over him. I knew he was a special boy and we had a connection, so I had to take him home!”

Campbell has gone from strength to strength since then. A well-mannered, potty trained dog who enjoys walks and cuddles, Ross said he is “the best boy and gets along well with his fur siblings.”

“His favorite thing to do is nap in the sun,” she added. “He also loves to snuggle with his people and with fuzzy blankets.”

Being blind and deaf does present Campbell with some unique challenges. “He startles easily and sometimes gets nervous outside. He is certainly a homebody,” Ross said.

“It also takes him a little while to adjust to changes, especially when the furniture in the house moves,” she added. “He knows his paths and will bump into things if he isn’t shown first. Fortunately, he’s super smart and learns quickly!”

Though she acknowledges that other dogs can “take advantage” of Campbell and he is occasionally treated differently by children due to his appearance, she hopes the videos she shared to TikTok of his adventures under the handle boomersanimallife show what life is really like with a blind and deaf dog.

“I hope people see how rewarding it can be to have a slightly challenged pet. It is not that different from a dog without disabilities,” she said. “My only regret is not bringing him home sooner. He is a wonderful companion.”

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