As you read their stories - please consider making a "Heart Connection"  with one or more. 
They each have their own unique gifts of joy and love of life and need your support.

Pets with Disabilities is located in Southern Maryland. 
WE WILL ONLY ADOPT DOGS INTO OUR REGION -which includes MD, VA, WV, DE, NJ, PA & NY (ie within a 6 hr drive of the rescue)

Please email us for additional information concerning a specific dog - the adoption process will begin with a completed application.

Calling all hound lovers! Meet Boots - a 2 yr old, 50 pound, blind hound that has never had a real home. Boots spent his life living in a dirty pen with other hunting dogs. Although Boots was obviously blind, we noticed diabetic like symptoms in his habits. Our internal medicine team has assessed him and diagnosed him with diabetes insipidus. A disease that is easily managed with an affordable medication (no needles!!).

Because Boots was never in a home, the PWD staff has begun some basic training. His new family will need to continue this and help Boots understand the wonderful sounds, smells, stairs, furniture, etc  he will encounter living in a home. He will overcome his skittish reaction to new stimuli with patience and quality time. He is great with humans and other dogs and would likely thrive with another dog in the family. He will require a fenced yard for his safety.

Boots is a diamond in the rough, a "clean slate" ready to learn about all the good things a life in a home can offer. Whether you are a hound lover or not - you will be a Boots lover. (see his video on our Facebook page)

We also would consider a long term foster to adopt. Please consider Mr. Boots.

Will you make a heart connection with Boots?

Ginger is looking for her new person. After her person passed away, one of our shelter partners contacted us on behalf of this three-legged love bug. Ginger is an 8 year old,  40 lb golden retriever mix. Ginger has experience a lot of change and still she remains consistently calm and adaptive. She is housebroken, quiet, great on a lead, and great with people. She probably lived all of her life as an only dog since she seems a little nervous meeting new dogs, but with the proper introduction to the right dog, she may come to enjoy a canine friend. (but she may not be a candidate for dog park lovers.)

Love knows no age and will run to greet you at the door on three legs as fast as on four! So if you are looking for a low-maintenance furry friend to add love and companionship to your life, you may be Ginger's person!

Will you make a heart connection with Ginger?

Ember found a Heart Connection with Christina Milford - thank you!

Meet EMBER

Ember loves life. She is just plain happy. Her very presence is a reminder of the importance of having a positive outlook on life despite its difficulties. Ember is an 18 mo, 20 lb. Beagle mix who came to us with a shattered pelvis and broken leg after she was hit by a car while escorting her litter across a road. Despite her initial prognosis, she is now defying the odds and is walking on all four legs because of her hard work. Her community feels that her work should be rewarded with a life full of love because she has so much to give. In fact, Ember's love is boundless as she is good with kids, cats, and other dogs; in fact, she loves to cuddle her people but is extremely playful and would love a puppy mate. Her only restrictions are physical in that she will need one-level living with minimal stairs and a smaller fenced area or leash walking. She is puppy-pad trained as well so that she has a back-up as she adjusts to your outside/potty routine. This accommodation and a special diet to maintain weight are necessary because her injury left her with a narrow pelvis.

Ember's story of survival reflects the very best of rescue work. Thanks to PWD's passionately committed community, Ember's surgical success and rehabilitation has exceeded expectations. Ember is ready for the rehoming chapter of her story and is looking for a forever family that is understanding of her needs for future success. If you are looking for a companion that inspires your happiness everyday and are willing to be patient in creating a routine that works for you and Ember, then you have found a gem with this pup.

Will you make a heart connection with Ember?

These two adorable Corgi mixes are 13 years old. They were surrendered to one of our local shelters due to their caretakers failing health. They didn’t have a lot of interest at the shelter and they wanted to keep this pair together since that’s all they have known- so they reached out to rescues. Thankfully we were able to help this cute duo!

After their senior vet check-up, it was determined Scoots the female has kidney disease. We have started a specialized diet (k/d) for her, and RedTops is very healthy other than some long term skin issues which we have started treating with medicated baths and medication.  These 2 pups still have a lot of love and energy and believe us, you would never know Scoots has kidney disease.  They love their beds and do sleep a lot but when outside they are lively and very playful!

We would love to find a kind hearted family or person to open up their hearts to this pair. They would do best as the only dogs with a small fenced in area.
PWD will supply Scoots prescription diet and any medication necessary. PWD will also take care of the medical bills for both dogs. All we need from you is to provide a loving home for these two

Will you make a heart connection with Scoots and Redtops?

MEET ARLO

Meet Arlo, a one-eyed senior 25 lb Shiba Inu/ Eskimo Mix (our best guess). Arlo had been at our local shelter for a long while. He was totally shut down and defeated, (Why am I still here?) We couldn’t turn our back on this little guy, even though we were busting at the seams with rescue pups, so on a cold rainy night he found his new lease on life. He became a PWD dog!

Within a few days and a good bath, he came to life and what a GREAT dog, personality plus!

Upon Arlos’s first visit to our vet, it was discovered he had a lens luxation in his left eye, unfortunately his eye needed to be removed because it was painful. However this made him even cuter, who wouldn’t want their dog to wink at them 24/7! Arlo is quiet, well-mannered, housebroken and has the cutest little prance, we all just love him! He is an independent soul, good with others and will make a great addition to any family.

Jenny is a 5ish year old German Shepherd mix. She is Heartworm positive and will be evaluated for possible hip issues ( that don’t really seem to bother her- or slow her down). We are still getting to know her but so far she has that typical loyal, smart, alert Shepherd personality. She is good with most other dogs, travels well and is good in a crate.

We would love to find a local foster home that would be willing to help her through Heartworm treatment, which would require 2 months of leash walking and low activity.

Will you make a heart connection with Jenny?

Shirley is hearing impaired and had a large suspicious mass on her back leg. She is approximately 8 years old 20 lbs., Dachshund/Beagle mix. Shirley was pulled minutes before she was to be euthanized. She is  an older dog with special needs, unfortunately these dogs are marked first to be killed. The shelter staff was so thankful we were able to get this arranged so quickly. Shirley was a bit nervous, but her new friend Vinnie (also pulled the same time) set her mind at ease as they were both traveled safely up to PWD.

Since Shirley's arrival we have surgically removed her masses and thankfully they were benign. She has settled nicely with the help of the other dogs at the Regal Beagle House. She looks to her hearing friends for guidance and confidence. She would benefit having a kind hearing dog to help and guide her in her new home. She enjoys hanging on the sofa and has slowly warmed up to us. She is a good dog and a perfect size. She will need a patient person to gain her trust, but once that bond is established you will have a companion for life.

Will you make a heart connection with Shirley?

MEET PAULINE

Paula is an easy companion. An 8 y.o. Corgi/Lab mix, Paula is the right temperament, size, and age for an adopter who is searching for a canine relationship with low maintenance and high rewards.

She is sweet, smart, and both cat and dog friendly, but she would do just as well as an only dog as she has no separation anxiety or attachment issues. In fact, she is largely issue-free. She came to PWD with heartworm and has been successfully treated.

Paula's only setback is her age. She may not be a young, instinctively active dog, but the benefit of her age is that she is already trained and ready for love. She loves car rides, is great on a lead, and is independent but cooperative - especially if you have a tasty treat!

Will you make a heart connection with Pauline?

MEET TICY!

When our rescue colleagues from rural GA reached out to us about a blind and emaciated dog on Thursday, we couldn’t turn our backs on her. She arrived last night and hopefully in the nick of time.

She most definitely needed immediate lifesaving vet care. She started her first day as a PWD rescue pup at Prince Frederick Animal Hospital to get a physical and baseline blood work. Her blood glucose was 700! She is very lethargic and will need to be monitored 24/7 at the moment until her diabetes is under control. After meeting the caring staff at PFAH she was transported and admitted to Dogs and Cats Veterinary Emergency Hospital where she will receive round the clock supportive diabetic care with some of the best doctors and support staff in the area.

She has already grabbed a lot of people’s hearts, and has been a great patient. It’s truly amazing she is still alive!
She does not have much energy but still wags her tail with any little bit of attention she receives. It is so sad to see a dog in such bad shape still wagging their tail.

Ticy has a long road with us and to add to her issues, she is also heartworm positive- a very preventable disease. We hope you can find it in your hearts to make a donation towards her extensive medical care. Thank you and please share for Ticy

Ticy Update! With a little TLC and her blood glucose under control she is finally gaining much needed weight and has pep in her step! She is making great progress! She is an entirely different dog from when she arrived here a month ago. She is getting stronger by the day and a bit more confident in her blindness. Hopefully we will be able to schedule her heartworm treatment soon.

Thank you to all who have sent donations and well wishes her way! She is a sweet and beautiful girl who will make a great addition to any family once she’s 100% ready for adoption.

Will you make a heart connection with Ticy?

Matt found a Heart Connection with Christina Milford - thank you!

Matt came to us from one of our local shelters. A plea was put out and we answered. He was originally found as a stray, unable to use his rear legs. Being a senior, paralyzed dog, his chances of adoption or even rescue were slim.

Mike went right to work taking measurements and fitting him to a wheelchair for his needs. Within hours of arrival, Matt was up and rolling in his new ride! Such a sense of freedom and independence when they realize they can move easy again! Matt has been with us for over a year without any interest. At times Matt is able to walk on all 4 legs but the majority of time he does need his wheelchair for support.

Matt is a fantastic dog with a great temperament! He gets along with everyone and all dogs! He loves his ball and is very fast in his wheelchair.  We all feel he would be a fantastic therapy dog!

Will you make a heart connection with Matt?

Luc found a Heart Connection with Kaye Moore - thank you!

TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE

MEET LUC!

LUC is a very sweet 2 year old border collie no other rescue would consider. The shelter was concerned with major behavioral issues (OCD, non-aggressive behavior), we decided to give him a second chance since he was on the euthanasia list. He was taken from the shelter to our medical team and they recommended an MRI to rule out any physical reasons for his quirky behavior. The MRI was completed and showed no abnormalities, so Luc was but on some anxiety medications and went to an experienced foster home, to learn how to be a border collie again.

UPDATE: From his 1st foster home – “Luke loves people and gets long with all dogs. He is very sound sensitive, but has found the tennis ball and treats can calm some of the sound worries. I have helped Luke reconnect with his environment. He has learned "tug", can find several toys by name, the tennis ball is the preferred outside toy - he will wait in the border collie stance for many throws - and happily return the ball. He loves his crate and has done well visiting parks and other border collie homes. He's decided cuddling on the couch is also something he can enjoy - and finally made it into the bed at night. We anticipate continued improvement as time goes on easier. I love Luke but I think he needs to move on to the next phase of his life, and a quieter environment.”

Luc is back at PWD and we were very lucky to find another border collie savvy foster who has helped Luke continue to evolve. It has truly taken a village to help Luke, with a behavioral veterinarian and professional trainers both qualified with working dogs and OCD, Luke now has a true chance of living “his version” of a normal life. From his new foster mom “Luke is thriving with us, he now LOVES to be outside, especially to play in the creek and woods where he can chase squirrels. And no matter where he is, he is inventive in making games with his favorite toys. He is a smart, affectionate boy, who is working hard every day to be the best version of himself!”

Will you make a heart connection with Luc?

Halo found a Heart Connection with Kimberly Kinsey Martha Baynard made a Heart Connection with Halo

HALO - a 6 yr old, 25lb cockapoo with a back injury. We received a phone call from a local young woman who had suffered a stroke that left her with one side paralyzed. Her beloved cockapoo, Halo, had suffered a spinal cord injury at about the same time. The phone call to us was a hard one for her, I could tell she loved her dog with all her heart, but she also knew she could no longer provide the care Halo desperately needed. This rescue was gut wrenching for us all, because Halo spent all of her time by the side of her fur mom, keeping her company as they both tried to cope with their adversities. Halo’s mom asked us to help and we did.

We told her we will give Halo the best life, either here at PWD, or with an adopter who understands Halo’s health. Halo’s journey with us begins today with grooming and a trip to the vet. Halo is an a amazing trooper who is still walking with assistance. She will have imaging done on her spine to determine if we can help improve her mobility. We are so happy we were in the position to help Halo and the fur mom who loves Halo so very much that she was willing to relinquish her, in order to give her the best possible life.

We will be posting new information on angelic Halo as we learn more about her and her condition. Do check back with us to see how she is doing, and for anyone who is interested in having a halo of their own, please consider becoming Halo’s angel or making a donation towards her care.

Update! She has been to the groomer!  We would like to give a shout out to Colleen at Rita’s Grooming for making Halo look and feel like a million bucks! Thank you so much!

Will you make a heart connection with Halo?

Jane Gentile found a Heart Connection with Bishop - thank you!

Bishop is a handsome 4-5 year old lemon  hound, who is deaf.  He  was surrendered to one of our Virginia shelters we partner with.  He is  about 50 lbs., fun, active, goofy pup, that will put a smile on your face.  He loves attention, and will curl up and lay on just about anything. He has flourished here at PWD and has made many new friends here. A sweet gentle soul good with people, cats and great with kids.  However, Bishop has some possession issues  with other dogs and so we do feel he does needs to be an only dog.   Bishop would do great in a secure  area or leash walking. 

UPDATE: Bishop’s life change here at PWD when very experience and compassionate foster person came to visit with some of our pups. She asked if she could help Bishop. (of our long timers here at PWD) This is her first experience with a hearing impaired dog and a hound! In his first days they have accomplished a lot together! Here is her first update

He had a better night last night. He is in the doggy suite now for while in preparation to a longer stay tomorrow when I go to work. Have only heard him bark once or twice. He is a sweet boy and it is funny, we are working on sitting before we go thru a doorway, and while he is getting the hang of it before we leave the house, going back in is another story. He is smart and knows what I want but he will actually turn his head away from me like a stubborn child how doesn’t want to do something. I have lots of time so I just wait til he decides to sit, however briefly, he gets a piece of kibble then we go in but it is so funny to see him actually turn his head as if to say, nope not doing it. I normally wouldn’t be doing this this soon but he is so smart, that I think he needs and can do these simple challenges. He gets a treat and a thumbs up sign each time he does something good. He gets a high value treat, a tiny piece of chicken, each time he potties outside as inside still is an issue.

Oct 1st - Foster mom UPDATE: Bishop has been amazing in short time he has been here. Has he been a perfect angel, no, but in just two weeks he has learned the signs for come, sit, wait and down. He sits and waits to go out and to come inside and he sits and waits for his breakfast and dinner. His leash manners vastly improved once he became comfortable with his new walking areas. Is he 100% no, but then who is, he is still a work in progress and with each day we practice, he improves a bit more and is proud of himself, you can see by the smile on his face.

With any dog, if you want them to do something you must first get their attention usually by calling, clapping etc. but Bishop is deaf so you have to get his attention another way. To help with this challenge, he just got a present, a vibrating collar. Over the next few weeks we will be working on training with him to understand that the jiggling of his collar means look to me for a command sign. This will be a learning experience for both of us, there will be lots of treats involved, chicken for him, hot fudge sundaes for me, He is so smart bet he does much better than me.

Bishop is thrilled to have visitors come to the house, male or female, young or old, he loves them all. He is respectful, does not jump but follows them everywhere in the house. He loves his walks, running in the yard and chilling on the deck. I know he would love to go hiking or jogging, something this foster would love to do with him but can’t ....Could you?

Oct 21st - Foster mom UPDATE: Bishop continues to amaze me. He is a love, full of energy who lives to explore new sights and smells...especially the smells as his nose works overtime. He would be a great walking or hiking companion provided he was always on a leash. He is always thrilled greet anyone he meets along the way with a tail that doesn’t stop wagging.  We had to abandon the vibrating collar as it really frightened him even set on the lowest setting and are now exploring others ways of communicating. As long as treats are part of this process Bishop is always happy to try

His Aunt Jane gave him two doggy puzzles and he ❤️ 💕 💗 the challenge ( and of course all the treats he uncovers)

July 2020 - Bishop is a sweet, quirky ,independent and stubborn guy and is a work in progress. He is not a couch potato, is quite active and loves to be able to see and be outside. He loves sleeping in the sun and watching the world go by from the security of my second story front deck. Inside, if anything is blocking his view he will remove it such as shades, blinds and curtains. His nose drives his brain, if he catches a scent, specially a rabbit he goes bonkers and should the rabbit run under the fence, he is lightening fast and will try his hardest to wiggle under after the bunny. As he is deaf he can’t hear if he is called so he will not respond to a recall and will be long gone in a heartbeat. To keep him safe, he is always leashed when we go outside. He loves his long walks everyday however he is a strong guy and at times can pull very hard on his leash so needs a strong handler. Would love to take him on car rides and trips but he get very car sick even with anti nausea meds

Bishop has a fairly active bladder which means multiple trips outside at dawn, during the day and evening hours are a must. He lets you know he needs to go outside by tipping things over, plants, small tables, fans etc., if it is on the floor, nothing is off limits , even the in floor air registers, he pulls them out of the floor. He repeats this quirky behavior when he decides it is his meal time. He can not be crated, if closed in a room, will destroy the door to get out and still can not go all day without an accident

He has learned hand signals and knows sit, wait and down. He loves people and long walks but is extremely picky about other dogs and can quite bossy I am told. I do not have a cat but understand he was fine with them? While he is normally fairly quiet, he has his moments of loud barking, not great if you have close neighbors

Will you be Bishop's "heart connection"?

Updated June 2021