Julie Elrod’s journey with Beanie, a blind and deaf senior dog, began with a heart full of love and a commitment to care.
Adopting Beanie, who had been rescued from a dreadful situation at age 11, Julie knew she had her work cut out for her.
Beanie wasn’t accustomed to the warmth and affection of people like Julie, nor was she familiar with being touched.
To top it off, Beanie wasn’t house-trained and showed little interest in food.
Julie faced a significant challenge: how could she teach Beanie to embrace love and joy?
She pondered over this, seeking a way to connect with her new furry friend.
Then, an idea struck her – why not dance?
“I have been dancing with Beanie every day since we adopted her from Rescue Dogs Rock in 2018,” Julie shared with The Dodo.
“Since she is blind and deaf, I communicate with her through touch.”
Initially, Beanie was hesitant and would scurry away whenever Julie attempted to pet her.
Preferring solitude, Beanie would just sit alone.
This didn’t deter Julie; she knew she needed to show Beanie an extraordinary amount of love.
Julie’s solution was ‘slow dance therapy.’
“Now, every day, I do ‘slow dance therapy’ to hold her close and sway back and forth. Even though she can’t hear me, I also sing to her,” Julie explained.
This daily ritual became a cornerstone of their relationship.
After a few years in her loving home, Beanie transformed into a completely different dog.
“She now trusts me totally and she relaxes completely and melts into my body as we slow dance,” Julie remarked.
“I do not care what appointments I have or who I am supposed to meet, I make time every single day to slow dance with my best friend and soulmate.”
Julie’s unwavering dedication has enabled Beanie to experience a profound connection with those around her.
“She did not know how to give love or receive love and it was pretty clear that she wasn’t interested at all in learning about love,” Julie said.
“She had no idea about housebreaking. She did not like to eat, so, even now, we have to hand feed her.”
The love between Julie and Beanie is a two-way street.
“She shows me that she loves me in different ways,” Julie noted. “
And she’s in my arms pretty much 24 hours a day. Wherever I go, she goes.”
For Julie, it’s Beanie who has been the life-changer.
“I would not trade being Beanie’s mom for anything,” she expressed.
“I love her so unconditionally and infinitely. Beanie is my soulmate dog, and I thank God for every second I have with her. No amount of time I have with her will ever be enough.”
Beanie is just one of many special needs dogs that Julie and her husband care for in their sanctuary.
“They are our kids,” Julie writes on her TikTok page.
You can catch a glimpse of Julie’s heartwarming slow dances with her “daughter” Beanie in the video linked below.
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@julieelrod1966 I dance with my blind, deaf rescue baby every single day no matter what. I don’t care what meetings I’m late to, I make the time to dance with Beanie ❤️❤️❤️ #dogs #animals #rescue #rescuedogs #cutedogvideos #cutedog #bff #bffs #bestfriendsforever #adoptdontshop #maltese ♬ Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell
