A visually impaired beagle named Buddy Mercury has gained international acclaim on social media for forming an incredibly charming musical duo with his human sister. Despite his blindness, this music-loving canine exhibits remarkable piano-playing skills and harmonizes delightfully with his partner, showcasing a joyful spirit that remains undiminished.
Buddy Mercury, an eight-year-old beagle mix who was rescued, resides in Long Island, New York, with his human parents, Laurie and Glen Wolfe, and their 5-year-old daughter, affectionately referred to as Buddy’s “Lil Sis.” The couple adopted Buddy from a North Carolina animal shelter in April 2016 after he was discovered as a stray. They welcomed their daughter into the family the following year.
Laurie, 41, and Glen, 42, shared that Buddy has always been an integral part of their daughter’s life, fostering a heartwarming and endearing bond between the two. “It’s been a really sweet relationship to watch,” Laurie mentioned to The Epoch Times.
Buddy Mercury’s remarkable musical journey began just three months after his adoption, when Glen was taken aback while watching television. The piano unexpectedly started playing on its own, leaving Glen astonished. Quickly recording the enchanting moment on his phone, Glen captured Buddy playing the piano.
Initially, Buddy started “singing” in response to sirens from a nearby fire station. Soon, this became a routine, and Buddy began making musical melodies multiple times a day. Laurie shared, “It became part of his routine, and he’s really very happy when he plays because his tail is always wagging when he’s at the keys.”
Glen, a professional drummer, vividly remembers one of their earliest viral videos, in which their daughter entered the room with a guitar. The sequence of events that followed was nothing short of magical, as Buddy, looking out the window, joined in with his musical talents. “It was a magical moment, just unforgettable,” Glen fondly recalled.
In the summer of 2021, Laurie and Glen noticed a change in Buddy’s eyes. Upon seeking veterinary care, they were informed that Buddy had progressive retinal atrophy, a hereditary condition leading to complete blindness. Despite the heartbreak, the vet emphasized the importance of maintaining Buddy’s routines, including his piano-playing. “Through our tears we were smiling,” Laurie shared.
Although Buddy now faces challenges due to his blindness, Laurie and Glen administer eye drops to ensure his comfort. Despite occasional bumps into objects, Buddy’s independence remains strong. In solidarity with Buddy’s adjustment to life without sight, the couple has chosen not to adopt more animals.
Their heartwarming family band, featuring their daughter’s singing and Buddy’s piano-playing, serves as a compelling message advocating for animal adoption. Buddy frequently participates in community events, fundraisers, and interviews, where he enthusiastically performs in exchange for treats.
While Laurie and Glen maintain their day jobs, they hold onto the possibility that their unique musical collaboration could eventually lead to new opportunities. Laurie expressed, “There’s a lot going on in the world, but I think that there’s no better cure for whatever is hurting someone [than] choosing to rescue an animal.”
12-year-old boy builds Lego wheelchair for dog born without legs
Gracie is a puppy who due to a birth defect was born without her front legs. She was immediately dumped by her owners but before eventually ending up in a vets office. At the time, the little puppy had lost patches of hair and had maggots crawling on her but she did not lose her will to live. Gracie was slowly nursed back to health and her life turned around completely when she was adopted by a loving family who instantly fell in love with the puppy even despite her disability.
The puppy was adopted by the Turney family that also happens to run an animal shelter. They had already adopted one paralyzed dog before and had experience in taking care of a disabled pet.
Naturally, Gracie had trouble walking but was too small for a wheelchair so the family had to come up with some sort of a solution.
That’s where 12-year-old Dylan came to help – the boy used LEGO bricks to make a wheelchair for Gracie.
A LEGO wheelchair was perfect for the rapidly growing puppy – it was cheap and easy to adjust.
With a little trial and error, Gracie got the hang of the wheelchair.
Soon enough she was running around like any little puppy her age!
Eventually, as Gracie got bigger, Dylan added bigger wheels to the wheelchair.
The puppy got an “adult” wheelchair as she got older.
Gracie’s story proves that any puppy can live a happy and fulfilling life with the help of caring and loving owners.
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