335: Disabled pets and their vets

Melissa Shapiro, DVM, is a small-animal veterinarian, author, and speaker. She is the creator and driving force behind the social media phenomenon Piglet, the deaf blind pink puppy. Shapiro is an outspoken advocate for disabled pets through media appearances, presentations at veterinary and pet care conferences, on her social media platforms, and through her monthly webinar series. Recently she created The Disabled Pets Project, a comprehensive resource for vets, pet parents, and rescuers who care for disabled pets. The website is disabledpets.org.

Her nonprofit, Piglet International Inc., implements the Piglet Mindset® Educational Program, an authentic teaching asset emphasizing resilience, inclusion, and kindness, in schools globally. Her memoir, Piglet, the unexpected story of a deaf blind pink puppy and his family, and children’s book, Piglet Comes Home, are available wherever books are sold.

Shapiro is the owner of Visiting Vet Service. She lives in CT with her husband, Warren Shapiro, Piglet, and his pack of 7 rescued dogs.