Blu spent the first six years of her life with a family who loved her very much. Sadly, when they moved to a rental home, their landlord refused to allow a Pit Bull-type dog. They were forced to give Blu up to a San Francisco shelter.
Pit Bulls already have a difficult time in the shelter system due to the stigma surrounding their breed. But poor Blu had a second strike against her: she’s deaf.
More than a year passed with little to no interest in the pretty white pup with striking blue eyes. She was losing hope that she’d ever be adopted when partners Mark and Sean came to Family Dog Rescue specifically in search of a deaf dog.
The couple connected with Blu right away and officially adopted her on November 24, 2018.
“She immediately took a strong affinity towards Sean and the rest is pretty much history, ” Mark told GeoBeats Animals.
Despite their bond, Blu had some trouble settling in. Losing her first family and spending so much time at the shelter left her scared and insecure. Perhaps she feared that Mark and Sean would send her away again.
“In fact, the first car ride we took her on to the beach, which was a couple of days after getting her – she was petrified. She was just shaking in the back,” Mark said.
Luckily, the couple had prior experience with deaf dogs. Together, they created their own non-verbal language to help Blu build her confidence. When Mark wiggles his fingers, it means Blu is being a good girl. A stern look from Sean means she’s being too rambunctious and needs to calm down. A trainer also taught Blu relaxation techniques to help quell her anxiety.
Soon, she was feeling safe and comfortable in her new home, allowing her true personality to blossom.
“I think she’s my spiritual animal I guess. I know when she’s anxious and when she’s happy and sad. We just read each other very well,” Sean shared.
“Deaf dogs hear with their hearts. Going forward, I don’t think I’d ever not have a deaf dog because they’re so unique and special,” he added.
Now, four years after her adoption, Blu is a happy, well-adjusted dog. She loves car rides and is only affected by her deafness when it comes to meeting new dogs.
“There are a lot of small verbal cues that dogs give to each other that she and the other deaf dogs I’ve had have not been able to pick up on,” Mark said.
On a positive note, Mark and Sean say that having a deaf dog means they are not bothered by fireworks or thunderstorms!
To see Blu blossom with her new dads, check out the heartwarming video below.
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The post Deaf Dog Waits Over A Year For Couple Who Hear With Their Hearts Like Her appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.
via Whisker Therapy