Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/black-labrador-vitiligo/

image - Family’s Black Labrador Surprised Everyone When A Small White Spot Appeared On His Ears

Most people are probably aware that there are albino animals.

Albino animals are rare in the wild. Sadly, both in the wild and in the pet trade, albinos are easy targets for both natural predators and people. They’re often captured and sold for a huge price, they get displayed and they don’t get their needed care.

The same goes for animals with vitiligo. Yes, they exist, they’re just not often talked about like their albino friends.

For those unfamiliar with vitiligo, it’s an autoimmune skin disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigment. Michael Jackson is famously known to have vitiligo, and another more recent example is the model, Winnie Harlow, who said that her vitiligo is what made her famous.

There are available treatments for vitiligo in humans, but there are currently none for animals. However, there’s really nothing to worry about because vitiligo is harmless. It’s all just appearance.

And that appearance might just be your ticket to fame, just like this dog!

Meet Blaze the labrador when he was still young and all black.

His color remained black most of his life, but white spots began to appear all over his body when Blaze was around 10 years old.

“The white color began spreading from a small spot on his ear,” Santeri, Blaze’s owner, said.

And from a tiny spot on his ear, look at how his vitiligo developed over time!

Blaze’s owner also mentioned that out of all his dog’s siblings, Blaze is the only one who had vitiligo. This is especially intriguing since most cases of vitiligo in pets are hereditary.

As mentioned earlier, vitiligo doesn’t do anything else to a pet’s health. So Blaze was a healthy and energetic dog that enjoyed tagging along wherever his owners go.

Sadly, Blaze passed away last year at 11 years old.

Many people who have come to love Blaze and his unique coat still continue to remember the good dog and express their love by keeping him in their hearts.

The last time Santeri posted about Blaze was on Facebook’s Dogspotting Society, where Blaze first went viral.

“He’s still missed, even by total strangers,” one person commented.

“Never met you personally, but I cary you in my heart ❤ I hope you are having a good day at the rainbow 🌈 Bridge 🌉,” another person commented on Instagram.

It’s been over a year, but the love that Blaze is still receiving is sure to warm any person’s heart. You’ll furever be in our hearts, Blaze. ❤️

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog