Piglet: The Unexpected Story of a Deaf, Blind, Pink Puppy and His Family

by Melissa Shapiro

Named a Best Feel-Good Book by The Washington Post In the tradition of the beloved New York Times bestsellers Marley and Me and The Dog Only a Family Could Love, a charming, inspirational memoir about empathy, resilience, kindness, and an adorable deaf blind pink dog.When Connecticut veterinarian Melissa Shapiro gets a call about a tiny deaf blind puppy rescued from a hoarding situation in need of fostering, she doesn’t hesitate to say, “yes.” Little does she know how that decision will transform her, her family, and legions of admirers destined to embrace the saga of the indomitable pink pup. One of the most anxious dogs Melissa had ever encountered, the traumatized Piglet weighed under two pounds upon his welcome into the Shapiro household—which included Melissa’s husband Warren and their three college-aged kids, plus six other rescued dogs. After weeks of reassurance, and lots of love, Piglet connected, gained confidence, and his extraordinary spirit emerged. Melissa soon forged a powerful bond with Piglet, allowing the two to communicate without sound or visual cues. Two months later, when the day arrived to say good-bye to the now dashing, six-pound pink boy dog with the larger than life spirit, Melissa faced a heart-wrenching decision. Could she hand him over to someone willing to give Piglet the full-time attention he required or could she adapt her schedule and her household to make a permanent place for him in her life and work? Of course, the answer was love would find a way. Curious, engaged, and incredibly eager to learn, Piglet quickly became part of the family. What started out as a few simple Facebook posts of Piglet and his pack rapidly evolved into a global celebration of Piglet’s infectiously positive mindset. The Unexpected Story of a Deaf, Blind, Pink Puppy and His Family fully illustrates this heartwarming story of one special little puppy with a purpose to teach the power of empathy, love, and kindness.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Dogs, Memoir, Biography, Adult, Family

321 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 3, 2021

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Piglet: The Unexpected Story of a Deaf, Blind, Pink Puppy and His Family by Melissa Shapiro is a 2021 Atria Books publication.

This book wins inspirational story of the year!

Melissa Shapiro, a veterinarian with a thriving practice, a busy family, and a large pet and bird population of her own, agreed to temporarily foster a little puppy that was blind and deaf.

Melissa never dreamed she would eventually give Piglet, his forever home, much less see him become a superstar social media sensation. His journey was one that require a great deal of patience, a whole lot of work, and loads of love and affection- but this little dog’s spirit would teach and inspire countless children to meet the challenges they faced.

This little guy is just adorable, and his story will absolutely melt your heart!! Follow him on Instagram and Facebook- but also read his book. Knowing his journey will help you appreciate just how far this little guy has come and what a wonderful, vibrant disposition he has. He does great work- but he couldn’t have done it without Melissa and her family. They, too, are inspirational and I’m so glad they recognized Piglet’s potential.

Melissa, her family, and Piglet have touched so many lives and should be an example to us all.

I am absolutely smitten with Piglet!!

[Sunflowerbooklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my GOSH.... Piglet you have my whole HEART.

What an inspiring, joyful, emotional, and beautiful story. Piglet is a deaf and blind puppy that is introduced into a family of a veterinarian. Melissa and her family started out fostering this little guy. As you can imagine, the darling pup came from a rough situation and was extremely anxious.

Soon, Piglet became a sensation with his own Facebook page and was world known. This family was changed by this dog. Family learned the power of love, empathy, kindness, resilience, and never to give up.

What I loved the most? This book was a reminder to me about finding joy in your life even when you feel like it's surrounded by darkness sometimes.

I could not get enough of Piglet and am so honored to have been introduced to this little guy. I highly recommend checking this one out. So inspirational and put a smile on my face.

4 stars!

Thank you so much to Atria for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: 8/3/21
Published to GR: 8/1/21.

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d give this book and author ten stars if I could!

Have you met Piglet? He’s a pink dog who also happens to be deaf and blind, and his story is an inspiring one.

Melissa Shapiro is veterinarian in Connecticut when she’s contacted about a rescued puppy in need of fostering. Melissa quickly says yes and never looks back.

Poor Piglet is rescued from hoarding and full of anxiety. He is also tiny, less than two pounds! Melissa’s family welcomes him with open arms- her husband, three children, and six other rescued dogs. It takes some time, but Piglet comes into his own. The time comes for him to be adopted, but Melissa is not sure she can let him go.

My favorite parts were all the lessons I learned from Piglet and the laughs and smiles along the way. Melissa is such a good, hardworking person. I admire her passion and commitment for/to rescue work. Piglet’s story is one of resilience and triumphing over adversity, and I really enjoyed my time spent with him and his family.

I received a gifted copy.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Ellie Shapiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I might be biased (full disclaimer: I’m Melissa’s daughter), but I found Piglet charming and hilarious. I’m an avid reader of historical fiction, sci-fi, and Russian and British literature from the 1800s, so my mom’s memoir is outside of the genres I usually reach for. But, alas, with so much excitement in our house surrounding the book, I of course had to give it a read. I can confidently and honestly say that it did not disappoint. It’s entertaining, thought-provoking, and literally laugh out loud funny. I think there's something in there for everyone to learn. Plus, it’s the kind of book that I read and then immediately go to the internet to watch videos of the people behind the story, look at more pictures, read news articles, etc. I’ve lived through at least 50% of the book and I was still tempted to go to my mom’s Instagram to browse through a few more pictures :)

As a whole, this book is not just about Piglet. It’s the story of my mom’s persistence and drive throughout her childhood and vet school, meeting my dad and raising three (wonderful) children, rescuing dozens of birds and dogs, serving hundreds of clients, and most recently, spreading her philosophy of resilience, compassion, and acceptance. I would highly recommend it to any and all readers!

[Warren Shapiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's my disclosure, I am the author's husband.

Imagine after 30 years of marriage writing the story of your life? Melissa and I have a running joke about us not being all that interesting. Nonetheless this is a VERY interesting, engaging, uplifting, and heartwarming story! Piglet has an amazing story to tell. He was meant to be discarded or to have lived a life of isolation and despair. But he didn't and he isn't. On the contrary, he lives a life FILLED with joy! How he does this is the tale Melissa tells. We were the enablers, with the help of a large group of family and friends.

On top of the challenges he has overcome Melissa had a vision for Piglet from the very beginning that he should live a life of purpose and service to others. How this happened is a lot of effort and a bit of good luck and another great story (it's all in the book). So Piglet, despite being deaf and blind has done a lot of good, raised over $100K for charities and several educational efforts including his own.

But for me this book is about finding joy in life regardless of the challenges you may face. Piggy has done that for himself as well as for me, my wife, our kids, our friends and hundreds of thousands of social media fans around the world. It's our hope that his story will do it for you as well!

[Hákon Gunnarsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book by accident on Storytel, not knowing anything about Piglets fame, but I thought this was a very interesting story. It's heartwarming story about a little deaf, and blind dog that come from a bad situation. A dog that needs different care than most dogs, but has a lot to give as well to his adopted family, and others.

I listened to the audiobook so I heard Melissa Shapiro (the vet that adopted Piglet), and Warren Shapiro (her husband, and Piglet's favourite dad) read the story. One also gets to hear the other dogs, and birds which makes me think the audiobook is in that way at least more interesting that the printed book.

Mim Eichler Rivas is the writer that brings this story to life, and she does a great job with it. It is heartfelt, and humorous, which I think is a good combination. I really can't find anything that could have been done better here. It tells the story of Piglet, but also the people in his life. Could the people have got less space? Probably, but I think it works well like this. This way you get to know the family as a whole, and not just the dog, even though he sounds like an interesting character on his own.

So I'm happy with this book. It is among the better books of this kind that I've read.

[Bonnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the story of how a deaf and blind rescue dog overcame his obstacles fascinating. He mapped new areas with his feet. He identified his people by the smell of their breath. He screamed. He snuggled to feel heartbeats. But oh my goodness did we have to hear all the details about her children’s music lessons and how she kissed her birds goodnight?? It became extremely tedious. More about rescuing animals in need of homes and about the evils of poor breeding would have been welcome and had more influence on my life.

[Ina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a heartwarming and well written story about a Veterinarian and her family and the changes that they experience when they add a seventh (yes, SEVENTH) dog to their household. That dog, is a rescue weighing only a pound and a half and is blind and deaf. With the last of their three kids going off to college, Melissa Shapiro and her husband, Warren, first foster this little terrified critter and then adopt him. This is the story of Piglet and his growth and development into an international ambassador/advocate demonstrating what disabled animals can accomplish and just how full a life they can lead with the right human partner. Beyond Piglet's journey, it is also a memoir of love, passion and family. The reader is treated to highlights of Melissa's childhood and her devotion to animals from an early age - they witness her journey to becoming a Vet and her first date with Warren. The descriptions are vivid and filled with love and humor - I felt like I was becoming part of the family as the kids, birds and dogs moved through their day. It also brought back happy memories of raising our three children and various animals in our - much more modest - manager. I could almost hear the music practice and sounds of dogs playing and dinner cooking. I was inspired to follow Piglet's page and will continue to explore the "Piglet Mindset." Extremely engaging, inspiring and just plain fun to read.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Piglets journey is a compelling and endearing story. Unfortunately, the author gets to bogged down in extraneous details which just are not necessary. If the editing for this book had been better, Piglets book would be a much easier and enjoyable read.

[Phyllis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The reviews were so positive, and I couldn't resist the premise of a charming, inspirational tale of a deaf blind pink puppy who despite his disabilities becomes a fundraising "spokesperson" and a celebrity in the dog rescue community and worldwide via the internet. This is certainly an uplifting and positive story told by Connecticut veterinarian Melissa Shapiro about her rescue dog Piglet. And her six other rescue dogs, and several rescue birds. And her three human children and her husband.

Melissa's daughter, Ellie, sums it up well: "As a whole, this book is not just about Piglet. It’s the story of my mom’s persistence and drive throughout her childhood and vet school, meeting my dad and raising three (wonderful) children, rescuing dozens of birds and dogs, serving hundreds of clients, and most recently, spreading her philosophy of resilience, compassion, and acceptance."

So that's what you need to know when you pick up this book. You will learn about Piglet - and there are many color photos, too - but then you will also learn *all* about Melissa Shapiro and her family (including her parents and in-laws). How could an editor let the story wander so far from the focus of Piglet? I didn't really want to know all about Melissa's childhood and why she became a vet or how she and her husband met and got married. Nor facts about her father and father-in-law(!). Nor the good-night ritual Melissa has with her birds. And so much more!

So if you want to read about Piglet and all the good stuff that is a result of Melissa rescuing and training him, you should at least be warned that this is also Melissa's memoir. I wish I had known that when I picked up this book.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very beginning as a very young girl the author had an understanding of animals rarely seen.
After convincing her parents to get a dog for her "brother" when they were both very young there has been no turning back .
Getting into vet school with just the right training was her life long dream and with many sacrifices she made it through.
I loved reading about her compassion for her many adopted animals including her birds where a special area was built for them and her lovely rescue dogs including a special needs tiny puppy named Piglet.
After fostering and teaching this blind and deaf puppy who came a long way with her dedicated and loving care the time came to interview people and place the dog in a new home.
Who would be able to provide just the care Piglet needs?
Highly recommended book. I loved it!

Pub Date 03 Aug 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Nonfiction/ Memoir. I know the title leads one to believe this book is about a little pink dog who is deaf and blind....eventually somewhere in the last half, the long road gets the reader to Piglet's full story. His story is a charming one and I like the way the owners are such an advocate for animal rescue and they do fund raising to support that.

They not only give a voice to a growing problem regarding dog breeding, hoarding, etc, and the need for rescue, but also Piglet is the positive and uplifting poster dog for so much more. This was a cute story with a necessary message of love, hope and endurance. So 4 stars.

[Roxanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a darling book. A lady vet gets a tiny, deaf, blind puppy and it needs fostering. The dog came from a very bad situation so it was very anxious at first. The little dog had a Facebook page and became a worldwide sensation. This family did not expect to learn so much from a little dog. They learned to have a postive mindset, the powere of love, empathy, and kindness. This vet has used the dog's social platform to eduacate, advocate, and encourage others to adopt pets. She has a non-profit organization where people can download educational and she supports animal rights.

[Mcvalens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational! What a story.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
The cover of this book sucked me in, of course, because what kind of dog lover wouldn't be?! Piglet is such a sweetheart! His zest for life and love despite his disabilities, that he doesn't even know he really has, is so inspiring. As a dog mom of two special needs dogs, I immediately fell in love with Piglet.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful read - inspiring and joyful in every way! It was wonderful reading about Melissa and her family, and their special connection to Piglet and his pack! Thank you for writing about love, empathy, kindness, resilience, and persistence. Bringing this message to adults and children all over the world is meaningful and inclusive! A must read!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won a copy in a Goodreads giveaway and from Atria books.
Non-fiction is not my forte - but this read more like a story than a typical nonfiction book.
Great story about resilience, family, and overcoming disabilities.
Melissa originally saved the dog and fostered him. But after a few months, they knew they would not be able to give him up. Thanks to a social media account, soon the whole world was plugging for Piglet to not only survive, but to thrive. One school, that is close to where I live, got a surprise visit from Piglet after following his progress and writing him letters.

[Eva Tipps · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a hard copy of this story as an early Christmas gift from a neighbor who deeply loves animals. While I would not have chosen this book myself (being afraid of reading about sad things), out of respect for her -- and her promise that this really was a "love" story -- I read it, and loved it! It is amazing to me the dedication some people have to rescuing dogs, changing their own lives in the process! And it is illuminating to me to see how what I would have viewed as a disability (blind AND deaf??) can actually be something positive. I need to memorize the five "laws of living" that Piglet taught the author. I remember Empathy, Flexibility, Optimism, Persistence, and Resilience. I think that's right.
I highly recommend this easily readable story.

[Angie Boyter · Rating 3 out of 5]

3+/4
A good book that could have been better with some editing. A few events were repeated, like Zoey's adoption; sentences needed smoothing, etc. I learned from the book that Shapiro had written a number of articles and essays, and I suspect some of the book was cobbled together from those works, which explains the repetitions but should have been corrected.
I had not known that Piglet was a social media sensation, so I needed to meet him in the book itself. I learned a lot about Melissa, her fame, how she met her husband, all of her animals, how she started up the nonprofit and educational work she does, etc. I did not feel I got to know Piglet as well as I expected or wanted. So I went to the Piglet You Tube videos; they were delightful.

[Kristina Agan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Piglets and the family journey was fantastic. Both my daughter and I enjoyed this read.

We won this book through goodreads and was not compensated for the review.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most amazing and inspiring stories about a dog I’ve ever read.

[Jeffrey V. Cernicky · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dog Bs

One of the worst books ever! I thought this book was about an amazing dog! It was the author touting her amazing family😆 Piglet is missing from this foul book!

[Darcia Helle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for rescue dogs. Okay, dogs in general, but rescue dogs tug hard at my emotions. Piglet’s story goes beyond the average rescue and made me feel all the feelings.

This book is a combination of Piglet’s story and Melissa Shapiro’s memoir. We learn about Shapiro’s life and family, her work as a veterinarian, her other six dogs, and of course, Piglet’s rescue and growth.

I love that this book highlights the importance of rescue organizations and foster families for dogs in transition. While not all of us have the time and financial ability to adopt a disabled dog, we can all avoid puppy mills and disreputable breeders.

*I received an ARC from Atria Books.*

[Carolynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's about an adorable pink puppy, 'nuff said!

[Jena · Rating 4 out of 5]

My heart is always here for animals! This story of a tiny deaf and blind puppy rescued from a hoarding situation is also the autobiography of the family who gave him a forever home. Piglet transitioned from a one-pound puppy who could only whine and scream to communicate, to a five-pound little dog who traveled the country and became famous for his ability to do tricks communicated to him through tap signals by his veterinarian mom. It's more than that though. It's the story of how somebody gave a chance to an animals that others would have given up on, a story of how that tiny fighter used every one of his other three senses to live a full life. Great read!

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highest praises for Piglet: The Unexpected Story of a Deaf Blind Pink Puppy and His Family! This book was an absolute delight. When I set out to read it I was excited to learn about Piggy Lee’s life at home with the Shapiro’s, his work as an ambassador for love and empathy and his origins. I learned this and so much more. “Piglet” is a beautiful love letter from Dr. Melissa Shapiro to her devoted, loving parents the Foodmans, her husband and true partner in life Warren, their three beautiful children Rachael, Daniel, and Ellie, as well as the many precious animals who have been a part of her life. Dr. Shapiro paints a beautiful picture of her love and appreciation for every wonderful soul that has touched her life as well as her wonderful life experiences. I laughed and I cried while reading this book, smiling the entire time. Love, kindness, and compassion go such a long way and make such a huge impact. The waves are countless. This story was an illustration of what it looks like to live life exhibiting these traits one day at a time one decision at a time. Life can be full of beautiful surprises if you just allow it to unfold, loving and appreciating it one moment at a time. Of course I was delighted to read EVERYTHING about sweet Piggy Lee who I adore, but I also enjoyed reading about Melissa’s childhood, how she met Warren, and their life together as parents to 3 children and many beautiful animals, each who have had a very significant impact on their lives. I really appreciated how she honored each and every one of them with her heartfelt words. As a mother and animal lover, I recognized the emotions that she so beautifully put into words. I have no doubt this book will warm the hearts of all who read it and that it will also teach the importance of planning and making important life decisions while staying flexible and open to wonderful possibilities. It will teach the importance and profound impact love and empathy for people and animals can have. It will teach the importance of inclusion and acceptance. Dr. Shapiro’s love for animals and passion for veterinary medicine made me smile and made we weep. Her love and dedication to her family made my heart swell. If you want to do something good for your mind and your heart read this beautiful book.

[Mandy Hobson · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first thing I want to say is that my thoughts on the book do not reflect my thoughts on Piglet, his amazing family and the work they do. I admire the dedication Melissa and her family put into spreading the Piglet Mindset and encouraging people to take a chance on pets that are differently abled but equally worthy of love and a chance to shine. By this they also help open people’s eyes to the wonderful things all humans can do regardless of their challenges physically or mentally. (I’m sorry if any of the wording used here is incorrect, my thoughts are coming from a place of love).

So on to the book. Honestly about two thirds of the content in the book was unnecessary to me. I was very interested in learning about Piglet and his journey. What I got was pretty in depth descriptions of everyone and their mother’s lives and many tangents that I had no interest in. I persisted in finishing the book because I wanted to learn about this amazing little dog and was rewarded in the last third of the book. I also found it quite repetitive with things already mentioned in detail coming up unnecessarily.

The book also felt very clinical. I understand the author is a vet and has a deep knowledge of what she does and is excellent at it. I just didn’t get the emotional viewpoint I would expect from something like this. After reading Warren’s short blurb at the end I wished he had written it.


I did not get enough Piglet in a book that’s supposed to be all about him. Maybe I just had the wrong expectations. I’m sure there are plenty of people who will enjoy this book way more than I did.

So the book gets 2 stars from me but Piglet and his family get a firm 5 stars!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Piglet, as the title indicates, is a tiny deaf, blind, pink chihuahua and dachshund mix dog. He only weighs a few pounds and is missing two important senses, but has such an inspiring story. He was adopted by a veterinarian and her family and thrived in their care. The message throughout the book is very uplifting and the pictures of Piglet and his brother and sisters are super cute. The only criticism I have is for a book title, "Piglet: The Unexpected Story of a Deaf, Blind, Pink Puppy and His Family", there was a large chunk of the book that was not about Piglet. At points the book started dragging and seemed a bit long. Some of it could have been cut out. Otherwise, it's a good book and Piglet is beautiful!

[Kim Bruce Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this little guy.

[Anne Serling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Borrowing from the old classic: "What the world needs now..."

Enter Piglet and his family.

Their story is well written, engaging and charming. It is also a sorely needed reminder that goodness endures and that even the most difficult challenges can be overcome.

It just took a little 5 pounder “ piglet” to show us. Thank you to Piglet and the Shapiro family for saving this small ( huge) hero and teaching us all such valuable lessons.