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Washington Deaf Dogs

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Kona, Cotton and Bella	Town: Lake Stevens, Washington Deaf dog: Bella Luna is a 5 year old Australian Shepherd/Lab mix. Bella is a wonderful, beautiful girl. She was dumped in the mountains when she was a puppy and survived there at least two weeks longer than her brother, who was found two weeks before Bella was(found). She had a lot of issues in the beginning, terrors and nightmares. She is also blind in one eye and limited vision in the other, also from birth. She definitely imprinted on FOOD, since she didn't get regular food during her survival time. She is so loving! She has a big sister, Kona, a 7yr Aussie Cattle dog,(hearing/seeing)who makes sure that both Bella and lil adopted Cotton stay on course. Deaf dog: Cotton is a 1 year old Australian Cattledog/Hound/Terrier ? We decided last summer (of 07) to look on petfinders again (that's where we found Bella) to see if there was another deaf pup in need to add to our family. We found Cotton. Like Bella, he was on the other side of the state, and had been dumped in the Mts. He's also blind in one eye, but does have great vision in his seeing eye. He's a rough and tumble boy who's just extremely smart. Where Bella is mellow, Cotton is very, VERY active/hyper/Terrier-affected. He's just now starting to calm down enough to learn more signs. He's very loving. Human companions: Denise and Chris Other pets: Zuni (queen cat 15 yrs, rescued as a kitten at the pound) Lily (forever feral, though lives a life of comfort mostly indoors 12yrs, rescued from the pound as a kitten, where she was born) Shamous 8yrs(Just like Seamus, although we went for more like "Shay-mouse") and Holly 8yrs, rescued off an 80ft off the ground HWY2 trestle on Christmas Eve after seeing her bounce from being tossed out of a vehicle at highway speed. With ground off claws from trying to catch herself some cuts and a facial fracture, a trip to the emergency clinic and the first 4yrs of her life being afraid of Christmas, she's a beautiful Torti cat. Email: hawaiki@msn.com
	Town: Vancouver, Washington Deaf dog: Justin is a 3-5 year old Yellow Lab but with a pink nose. I adopted justin from our local humane society in october of 2007, at that time he had a huge tumor on his rear left leg. No one seemed to want him, he was found wandering the streets hungry and thin. I took him to my vet and had the tumor removed and brought him home to heal. As time went by both my husband and I noticed that he was easily startled and did not seem to hear any sharp noise around him so we confirmed that he is deaf. Then we started using standard dog sign language around him much like a hunter would use with his bird dog. He responded wonderfully. He has two sisters that live with him, lucy, a 3 year old mix of Bull-Mastif and Maya, a 2 year old mix of Pit and Lab. Justin is wonderful to behold because he really looks at you and tries to read your face and body language more than the other two. We do feel that somewhere along the line before we got him someone did train him in sign language, maybe he was someone's hunting dog but we love him and are so very glad we have him. Human companions: Bobbie Castle Brown, my Husband and my Mother Other pets: one huge cat and 8 finches and 2 other hearing dogs Email: imsickofit@comcast.net
Casper Whisper Chloe Joey	Town: Oak Harbor, Washington Deaf dog: Casper is a 10 month old Great Dane. He is an incredible addition to our family since our loss of Sparky. He's currently 155 lbs at 10 months, healthy & we love him dearly! He has taken to my son & they are the best of buddies! We got Casper from a breeder & are proud to have him. he has completed basic obedience & visits the dog park almost daily! Whisper is a 7 month old Great Dane. I adopted her from the breeder because she was pure white. She is deaf with mild micoopthalmia (she amazingly has 90% vision!) & we found out Oct 1, 2005, she is also epileptic. She is very smart, starting advanced obedience classes already, eager to please & loves everyone! She is truly a very special girl in our family & hearts. Currently 100 pounds & a bundle of energy! Chloe is a 16+ year old Spaniel Mix. Chloe came to us as a foster about 8 years ago. She was in a house fire, we had to have one eye removed surgically & now the other is blind from age, she has gone deaf from age also but enjoys life still & we love her. She is still very shy to human touch, likes her own yard & space & TERRIFIED of human houses so we respect her fears & give her her own yard & she is very happy! We hope for many more years with her, she's a special dog. She's a rescue from Canada. Joey is an 11 year old Lhasa Apso. Severe ear infections from the day we brought him home as a puppy has caused irreversable damage to his hearing (as well as vet prescribed incorrect medications!). He is also blind (but sees an opthamologist regular & we have hope for one eye to gain more than the current 23% sight!) Joey is a sweet, loving natured Lhasa Apso that I am proud to be owned by & an incredible member of our family! Human companions: Trina Smith Other pets: Amy, 11 yr old Lhasa Apso, born physically disabled. (had since birth) Cassandra, 2 year old Lhasa Apso, born physically disabled (had since a puppy) Louie, 8 month old Merle Mantle Great Dane. Mr LT Paris, 8 yr old retired agility & coonformation Lhasa Apso. Email: limited@pointroberts.net
Buck	Town: Spokane, Washington Deaf dog: Buck is a 1 year old Border Collie/ Blue Heeler mix. My deaf Daughter has a Border Collie/ Blue Heeler mix that she is training to be her hearing ear guide dog. My husband and I decided to get a Puppy (at 8 weeks of age) of the same breed to train for our hearing ear guide dog. We named him Buck, and as we proceeded with training him, we noticed that he didn't respond as our Daughter's Dog did. We did internet research and Vet visits and found that he was profoundly hard of hearing. (He can hear loud sounds but is not sure how to respond to them.) We decided to train him with simplified asl and he learned real quick. Human companions: T. Franklin, Husband, and two Daughters Other pets: Skyler, Daughter's Dog, and Pookie our Yellow Tabby Email: teafrank@msn.com
Lieben and Keller	Town: Lynnwood, Washington Deaf dog: Keller is a 2 year old American Bulldog. We got Keller for free from a local breeder after a very long interview process to make sure we were a good fit and that we could work with a deaf dog. He was born deaf but otherwise healthy, so the breeder did not want to put him down. We named him Keller Ludwig Von Harrington after Helen Keller and Ludwig Von Beethoven (he had to have our last name of course!) He is a very tenacious guy (Am Bull!) and has reached 98 pounds. There have been some challenging times as he often times can be mistaken for a run away freight train in the house. But he is a big lovable baby at heart. He sleeps in bed with us every night! He also has his own hearing-ear-dog, Lieben, our other dog. Keller cues off of Lieben so all we have to do is call Lieben and they both come running. There have been some challenges raising a deaf dog but most of the time we almost forget he is deaf because he is so intuitive and sharp. Human companions: Tonia and Ryan Harrington Other pets: Lieben - Lab/Border Collie X, Moet - Domestic Short Hair cat, Chandi - Domestic Short Hair cat, Jessie Rutgar - African Grey Parrot Email: toniah@psbc.org
	Town: Tumwater, Washington Deaf dog: Fergus is a 6 month old Beagle/Pug? mix. He seems very bright and is learning hand signals. He socializes well with both other dogs and people but does not always understand other dogs growls. Human companions: Vickie Thusing, husband and one teen Email: fairytern@comcast.net
	Town: Chimacum, Washington Deaf dog: Honor is a 5 year old Aussie/Bordercollie. I got Honor at a local shelter on Dec.31 2002. I had lost my deaf Dalmatian and I went to the shelter to see what dogs they had up for adoption. When I walked through the kennel area I saw a little white pup shaking and sitting in the corner of the kennel. When I read his papers they said he might be deaf and they might need to put him down. So I took him home with me. I am a professional dog trainer and behaviorist and it even took me a few days to get Honor to trust me enough to let me pet him. He was scared of everyone and did not know what a toy was. When I showed him his new toys he got scared and ran to hide. After a few years he finally came around and now he loves everyone and he LOVES his toys but he favorite thing is the ocean beach. Honor is CGC registered and he passed the test to become a therapy dog and I hope to do freestyle with him. Honor is a beautiful dog. He is all white with one big brown patch around his right eye. He is loved by everyone and I have been offered money many times for him. One of his favorite people is his aunt Tiffany. She has asked me if she could keep him many times. Honor loves to bark and he also loves to tease the other dogs. He has no behavior problems now and he is the easiest dog I have trained yet. Human companions: Kara Crawford Other pets: Dogs- Prince, Patches, Jessie, Kneeka, Nanook, Arrow, Dottie, Minter, Lea, Nicky, Bart. Cats- Gracie, Oliver, Shy, Hope, Faith, Bageria. Duck- Penny. Birds- sunny, Storm. Horses- Kyah, Beauty, Spirit, Rain, Heidi, Flash. Mini Horse- Splashy. Goats-simion, Sesile Email: heavenboundhounds@yahoo.com
Mystical	Town: Spokane Valley, Washington Deaf dog: Misty (Mystical) is a 3 and 1/2 year old Australian Shepherd. I rescued Misty from the pound last year. I thought it would be really difficult to deal with a deaf dog, but Misty is the most beautiful dog I have ever owned. She is in our home with two cats, who are just learning that she isn't that bad. I have caught them all curled up on the couch sleeping together. I can't imagine my life now without her. Human companions: Sharon and Robert Kofmehl. Other pets: 2 Cats. Momma and Winky Email: slkofmehl@yahoo.com
Casper	Town: Auburn, Washington Deaf dog: Casper is a 4 month old Cardigan Welsh Corgi. He is a double Merle Cardigan Welsh Corgi. He is the rare result of breeding two Blue Merles. He is deaf due to the hairs in his ears lack pigment. He is the smartest sweetest boy. We begin classes in January 2007 to be become a certified Delta Society Pet Partner. He loves going to dog shows and usually gets more attention than the dogs in the ring. We're very lucky that Casper is a member of our family. Human companions: Kim Kiefer Other pets: 1 other Cardigan Corgi, 1 Pembroke Corgi and 2 cats Email: Unavailable
	Town: Olympia, Washington Deaf dog: Jack is an 11 year old Brittany Spaniel. I've only had Jack for about 2 weeks now. He is the sweetest boy! Jack came to me via the Internet. I saw his cute face, read his sad story, and we (my hearing dog and I) went to get him. Jack's previous owner had to go to a nursing home and a vet took him in - otherwise he would have been in the streets! Poor guy has some health things going on including a femur out of it's socket. My vet is amazed he gets around as well as he does! He has such great enthusiasiam and is such a good little guy. He has to have surgery on his leg, but for now we are getting some weight off him. He got some bad teeth pulled last week, nails trimmed (curled under), ears cleaned, mats trimmed out. He has adapted so well, and my other dog loves him. And, she is so considerate of his bad leg. We are trying to show him how to play and he actually took the toy in his mouth yesterday!! He's already learned to "sit" and "down" with hand signals. He learned the dog door really quickly! He's getting used to the idea of "work". He probably wasn't used to it with his person being elderly. I'm thankful to have his gentle spirit. Human companions: Sharon Zier Other pets: another dog Email: sez_sammie@yahoo.com
Olivia	Town: Seattle, Washington Deaf dog: Olivia, a 10 year old Cocker Spaniel/Terrier mix. Her guardian writes "Sweet Olivia (aka 'Livee) came in to my life one year ago. There was a knock at my door and when I opened it there was this sweet face looking for a home. The woman who had only recently adopted her didn't want her because she was deaf. Did I want her? You bet I did! 'Livee delights me every day and I am so glad to know her and benefit from her companionship." Human companion: Cindy L Ference Email: natural_womyn@hotmail.com

Star	Town: Auburn, Washington Deaf dog: Star was a delightful Sheltie who recently passed on at the age of 13. Her person writes "Star loved to herd our pony or our cow (in her younger years) with the best she knew how, circle and not stop. She would also go out and find them in the dark so that I could bring them in and put them in the stall for the night." Human companions: Shannon Coleman, her parents Bev and Bill, and Daniel, Amy, Kristy and Michael Wold Other pets:Jack, a 13 year old Cocker spaniel; Mia, a three year old Australian Shepherd; Saturn,a four year old Australian Shepherd; Pepsi, an Australian Shepherd puppy; Champagne, a Husky mix; three cats; one FFA sheep. Email: starshan@hotmail.com

Sparky Chip	Town: Oak Harbor, Washington Deaf dogs: Sparky, a neutered male Great Dane who is white with merle markings. Sparky was adopted from the Michigan Great Dane Rescue. Chip is a 6 year old Dalmatian. His family says" Chip was the only pup produced out of 7 that was deaf. Knowing the Dalmatian breed, I always checked my pups for hearing. Chip was easily housebroken since he slept for long periods of time, I would take him out when he woke up, let him do his 'duties' and back in he would come to play. He was socialized with his siblings and still has his mamma with him as well as several other dogs. He is gentle, kind and very attached to me. He is very calm, clean, neutered at 5 months of age and now 110 pounds of lap dog who prefers to sleep on the couch or in a reclining chair. Over the years he has had no health problems and got along great with parrots and graduated second in his obedience class. The hand signals he knows are: sit, down, heel, come, off, leave it and no (or "You are being bad"). He (as all our dogs/pups) are raised with repetition and praise, rather than punishments. All good behavior is rewarded. Chip is well known for seeing a hand signal and if he doesn't like it, he will look the other way and wag his tail until I go and tap him on his shoulder and re-signal." Human companion: Trina D. Smith (who is hard of hearing) Other pets: 8 hearing dogs, 2 cats Email: sucia@oakharbor.net

	Town: Oak Harbor, Washington Deaf dog: Digit, a one year old Dalmatian, loves to mountain bike, jog, and attend obedience classes. He's a playful and talkative kinda guy. Human companions: Victor R Wilson, his wife Susanne, and daughters Zoe and Aurora Other pets: Sarg, a unilaterally deaf Dalmatian. Email: vito84@yahoo.com

	Town: Yelm, Washington Deaf dog: Dahlila is an 8 month old Great Dane. She is part of the family. Very playful and happy you would never know she is deaf except when you call she doesn't respond. She is a beautiful, all white (almost she does have one spot the size of a pea on her back thigh) with crystal blue eyes. Dehlila is just a spunky puppy who loves to play and cuddle she thinks she's a lap dog at 145lbs! Human companions: Sonya Byrd, Robin, 2 daughters of our own and 4 foster daughtes Other pets: 5 month old German Shepherd, and 3 cats Email: NSKBbyrd@aol.com

Juno	Town: Seattle, Washington Deaf dog: Juno is an Australian Shepherd Mix, born in May of 1999. He is a very energetic and vocal dog. He has partial hearing in one ear which makes it difficult for him to locate sounds. He is EXTREMELY visual and notices if I move a potted plant in the yard. Of course then he also notices that other dog clear across the park! Human companions: Laura E. Matter and Shandee Other pets: Our cat Lotus Other pets we miss: Juno's brother, Django passed away from cancer. He lost his leg two years ago(2001) to an agressive cancer and we were thrilled to see how well he adapted to being a three legged dog. However, the cancer became systemic and we lost him to it anyway. We also recently lost Ambrosia, our oldest cat and mother of Charisma, at age 21. Most recently we have also lost our beloved Charisma, who was 22 like her mother when she died and Gilsen who was unfortunately only 7. He died due to cancer. Email: lmatter@earthlink.net

Gatsby	Town: Des Moines, Washington Deaf dog: Gatsby is a Dalmatian, born 4-1-00. He is a "velcro dog", he follows you wherever you go. He has the most beautiful blue eyes, and he knows many signs. We searched specifically for a Deaf dog to adopt, so this is a Deafie who is truly wanted Human companions: Candie Lundquist, a sign language interpreter, and Todd Other pets: Ayla, a 5 year old tortiseshell kitty we adopted from the shelter Email: CandieL@aol.com

	Town: Centralia, Washington Deaf dog: Pepper is a 2 year old Dalmatian, and Princess is 4 years old. Princess is hard of hearing but not totally deaf. She adopted us (she lived in Delaware and took a plane to her forever home). Thank you Willing Hearts! Human companions: Jennifer Peters, my fiance Justin, and my brothers Brian and Joey Other pets: 3 cats Black, Velvet and Dexter (who have mastered the art of hiding) 2 rats Yankee and Snowflake, a ferret Romeo and a hamster Buddy. Email: bratt@localaccess.com

Karma	Town: Port Angeles, Washington Deaf dog: Karma was born in 2000. As she matured she has become very protective and jealous of other people and dogs. Typical Cattle Dog I am told,however, my other 2 previous Cattle dogs were not like this. We continue in advanced obdience. She reponds well very to hand signals and the vibrating collar works well to get her attention for the hand signals. Does agility well just for fun. Human companions: Ken Fogel Other pets: 3 cats - Duffy,Skeeter and Sniffles Email: sharkenfog@tenforward.com

Bandit	Town: Kelso, Washington Deaf dog: Bandit is a 3 year old Boston Terrier. He is a fun loving normal dog. Great family pet and lights up our days! Full of energy and life. Human companions: We are a family of five, Mom (Joanne Gerkins) and Dad, one 16 year old daughter and two sons ages 14 and 11. Other pets: Two cats, one rabbit, several fish. Email: JoanneGerkins@aol.com

	Town: Wapato, Washington Deaf dog: Piggy Kind of Guy is a 4 month old Boxer-Aussie cross. This was a puppy of my rescued boxer. She had a litter of eight. Out of eight two were one solid white and one of those was deaf. When I found out he was deaf I could not give him away. I was afraid some one would be mean to him. So we kept him. I have two rescued Boxers and him. His name results from him looking like a piglet when he was born. He is a clown, who keeps the family laughing. Human companions: Anna Morales, three sons and one daughter Other pets: Amy-1 1/2 year old Boxer, Sally-2 year old Boxer, & Kitty-age unknown. All are animals that have been rescued Email: annarrue@yahoo.com

	Town: Ellensburg, Washington Deaf dog: Baby is a 14 year old Maltese/Poodle mix, and Annie is a 12 year old Maltese. Their family (who knew they were deaf when they were adopted) say "Baby and Annie just recently joined our unique assortment of people. They came to us from the Pacific Maltese Adoption Association. We are over-joyed to have them come into our lives. In July, we lost our little girl and wanted to do something special in remembrance of her." Human companions: Carol Ward & John McGehee Other pets: 8 assorted birds, an Iguana, a Guinea Pig, a Chow, and 2 Siamese Email: poobear@eburg.com

	Town: Tacoma, Washington Deaf dog: Corkydals is a two year old Dalmatian, with congenital deafness. Our advice to owners of deaf dogs is "Have patience and don't give up"! Human companions: Dixie and Dean Horton Email: deanjames2001@webtv.net

Lola	Town: North Bend, Washington Deaf dog: Lola is a puppy (12 week old Dalmatian) we found in the Skagit Valley in February of 2002. Her previous owner's vet wanted to put her to sleep before we met her. My husband and I took her home with us, and she instantly fit right in. She is very affectionate and a delightful companion. We are really looking forward to learning to communicate with her and she is already part of the family. Human companions: Aimee Sharp writes: "Lola shares her new home with our 1 1/2 year old daughter and 4 year old son, and all of us can't wait to start signing with her." Email: sharp@drizzle.com

Cristy	Town: Bremerton, Washington Deaf dog: "We got Cristy (Cocker spaniel) from my mom's tax client. she was about 6 or 7 and loved to play with balls. You could throw a ball anywhere, even in thick bushes, and she would always come back with it. She was a very lovable dog. Cristy passed away about a year ago (at age 13) and we have missed her since." Human companions: Josh Armstrong and his family - brother, Michael; sister, Stephanie; Mom, Judy and Dad, Steve Other pets: A cat named Cecil. Email: josh_rocker_04@hotmail.com

Blaze	Town: Seattle, Washington Deaf dog: Blaze (Dalmatian) is an amazing dog! He's extremely bright and enjoys being around his family and other dogs. Blaze's original owner became seriously ill, and he was put in the care of her daughter. He became best buds with her large lab pup, but eventually the two of them became just too much to handle. I went over to meet Blaze and, well, that was it, I had to have him. So we adopted him at 6 months and introduced him to a new home. Blaze went through a little bit of seperation anxiety when he was young, but with some training and a bit of patience on our part, he was able to overcome it. He has since moved from NJ to Seattle, WA, and has been loving it. He now has access to several dog parks and can't get enough of romping through the streams and fields and interacting with all the other doggies he meets. Adopting him has truly been one of the best decisions I've ever made. Human companions: Colin Hynes Email: hynes_c@hotmail.com

	Town: Seattle, Washington Deaf dog: Lulu is a 5 year old English Bulldog. Her family says "I have Lulu for a year now and she is very well adjusted. I still talk to her and she pretends to listen. She is amazing with kids, which is good because she around them all the time. I think her deafness is an asset becase they can run screaming like banshees through the house and she just lays there un affected. She also lets them lead her around and hug her. She has become quite spoiled and will only sleep on the couch, and is quite a nudger when it comes to walk time." Other pets: Cassidy, Tiramisu (Fat Cats) Human companions: Erin B. Goodman, Russ, Noah, Eva, and Baby to come Email: erinbgood@yahoo.com

Roscoe	Town: Seattle, Washington Deaf dog: Roscoe is the sweetest dog you'll ever meet. I found Roscoe at PAWS in Lynnwood. There he was, as sweet and gentle as could be and it was love at first snuggle! Roscoe is a seven year old Terrier mix. Human companions: Cindy Ference Email: natural_womyn@hotmail.com

	Town: Olympia, Washington Deaf dog: Mac is a Adorable Pup(Boston Terrier). I had looked for reputable breeders and then picked him out of the litter. No one knew then that he was deaf. We discovered it after about two weeks. He has been a delight and is a quick learner. My family and I are enjoying learning sign language and hand signals to train him. It is a wonderful experience.We also are owned by a one and a half year old German shorthair, He and Mac have great fun playing together. Human companions: Steve, Connie, Dan, Jessica and Tyler. Other pets: Buck-German Shorthair,Cats- Honey and Daisy and one hamster. Email: cr5565@aol.com

Echo	Town: Moses Lake, Washington Deaf dog: Echo is a 7 week old boxer. Sharon says: "We had boxers several years ago and when our Amos passed on several years ago, there was no "replacing" him and we took solace in a couple of "Little Fur-kids". Now we felt ready for another boxer and found a white little girl we were quite certain was deaf and would need special care. She has only been with us 3 days and has stolen our hearts and is VERY attentive and we are sure she will learn all that is required of her and more very quickly." Human companions: Sharon and Marv Lybbert Other Pets:2 poms - spayed cream female, "Angel" and black male, "Quincy". Congo African Gray Parrot "Koko". Email:zgzgzn101702@genext.net

Judy and Trina	Town: Bellevue, Washington Deaf dog: Trina is a 4 year old Rottweiler. Judy says: "I found Trina from a listing in Rottweilerchat.com. She was linked from RED I adopted Trina form PAWS in Lynnwood. She is a Sweetheart! She loves her brother and sisters! She's been home since Mid March. i have learned the basic commands and we are both learning starting to learn new words. She is So cute! She's my "Pocket Rottie"! I LOVE Her!" Update 9/5/07: I just wanted to share that Trina went to The Rainbow Bridge on September 5th. Trina was a sweetheart all thru her life with us. She was 9 and a half years old. I want to thank everyone who helped bring us together. Human companions: Judy Opdal Other Pets:Cassie is a four year old Rottweiler/Husky Hybrid. She's been with me since she was 10 weeks old. She's the Alpha. Bob is a two and a half year old Lab/Bloodhound/Rott mix and Stubby is a four year old Calico Kitty. All of these kids were rescued or foundlings. Judy Comments: "I just love my kids. Trina fit into the family right away!" Email: Double0Puppy@aol.com

	Town: Longview, Washington Deaf dog: Bear is a two month (Sept, 2002) Jack Russell Terrier. Human companions: Molly Howard. Email: neverland@cport.com

	Town: Washougal, Washington Deaf dog: Emma is a 6 week old Australian Shepherd/Blue Heeler mix. "Emma is the offspring of a stray who made our local paper after one of her puppies fell into a drainage ditch and had to be rescued by police and firemen! The day after we decided to commit to her the caretaker called to say she was deaf. We took her anyway, figuring we were just the family she needed. I immediately went online and got the information necessary to give Emma a good life. She is a little bundle of fuzzy, predominantly white, energy and my whole family has committed to raising her." Human companions: Lori and Cliff Nutting, sons Shad, 14 and Josh 13. Other pets: Leonardo, 11 year old Canadian Lab; Remington, 2 1/2 year old St. Bernard; Cat, Timone; Two cockatiels, Taurus and Beretta; Beta fish, Glock. Email: L8erRedRebel@mybluelight.com

Atticus	Town: Seattle, Washington Deaf dog: Atticus, our deaf Boston Terrier, was rescued from a puppy mill in Kansas, thrown away because he was deaf and "un-breedable". He went to live with Bev who runs the United Boston Rescue organization in Topeka and then I found him on www.petfinder.org. We flew him from MO in November and he is a wonderful puppy, so smart! He's learned tons of tricks and behavioral skills in the short time we've had him. He's very alert and eager to please. The only problem we find with his deafness is that we can't be lazy with him! We teach him both home made signs and some ASL as well. He is so much fun and we are so happy that we decided to adopt a deaf dog. If you have the time and the patience they really are a rewarding choice! Human companions: Amy and Ronald (a.k.a. Mommy & Daddy) Other Pets:Our two meows, Stratocatter and Enola (a.k.a. "The Nut"). Email:lilaimilita@msn.com

Rocket	Town: Lake Forest Park, Washington Deaf dog: We adopted Rocket through StodkdogJunction.com because I was getting a little jealous of all the fun our 16 year old son was having in Agility with his dog. Rocket can hear high pitched sounds in one ear, but by and large we treat him as though he were fully deaf. He's a real handful as are most ACDs, but he's a lot of fun as well. He really gets excited about Agility and we're looking forward to our first trial. We use a combination of hand signals with Rocket, including several generally accepted dog signs like sit, stay and come. We use a one-handed version of ASL for "Leave" for leave it, "Floor" for the rug command (he can have any part of his body on his rug, in any position, but he has to stay on his rug--very useful), and in Agility I use a combination of body language (especially shoulder direction) and homemade signs for the obstacles. Rocket and his doggy big brother Toby, a hearing Aussie mix have great fun wrestling and arguing over chewies and toy! Human companions: Jim (the Dad) Suzanne (the Mom) Josh (the 16 year old) Other pets: Toby, the 3 year old hearing Aussie mix, 4 cats, 1 lizard and 1 newt. Email: jpbeckley@yahoo.com

Cody	Town: Fort Lewis, Washington Deaf dog: Cody is an Australian Shepherd. ""Cody now knows over 30 ASL Signs and is doing great! We are training him to become certified with the DELTA society as a Therapy Dog! It's going great so far. He graduated from puppy obedience with honors and top of his class!! He is now 17 months old and so much fun! We rescued him from Oasis for the Animals on Whibdey Island when he was 11 weeks old, after the breeder was going to have him pts. He's the joy of our lives and keeps us on our toes!! Human companions: Naomi and Justin (mommy and daddy) Other pets: His sister, Zoey, an 18 month old hearing Rottie Email: Jnbrownlow@earthlink.net

	Town: Seattle, Washington Deaf dog: Sparky (Cocker Spaniel) is a blind and deaf 12 year old cocker spaniel. But don't feel bad for him! Oh no, Sparky has a nose that can find anything and two adoring parents that make sure all his needs are met. He is a big bundle of love who likes nothing better than playing with his tennis ball and sleeping by the heater. He was rescued from the Seattle Animal Shelter in summer of 2001. His blindness and deafness are most likely the result of poor breeding as he suffers from chronic ear and eye infections. Human companions: Marissa and Christie Other pets: A 17 year old terrier mix and a 14 year old cat. Email: cspixie@hotmail.com

Casper	Town: Battle Ground, Washington Deaf dog: Casper is my 140 pound baby. He loves to sit like a person either in a chair or on my lap. He is very loving and friendly. When he was little his ears were too big for his head and often covered his eyes. Now they just go in many directions on top of his head. He is a joy to have around and he has no idea he is deaf. Human companions: Carol, Alex, Tim and Chris Other pets: Jenny, a Dalmatian; Charlie,an Elkhound mix; Mandy, an Elkhound/Pug mix and Jake a Coonhound mix. Email: CReinh2277@aol.com

CaSea	Town: Everett, Washington Deaf dog: CaSea is an Australian Cattle Dog. Nicole says: I first found CaSea on a Deaf Dog site marked "urgent!" November of last year. She was in the Animal Control shelter in El Cajon, CA and was 1 week past her put-to-sleep date. A kind woman saw her there and immediately put the word out on the internet. I called the shelter and sure enough she was marked to be put down. Arrangements were made and CaSea was flown from California to Seattle (thus the name). She is just a wonderful companion and even though she is blind in one eye and deaf, she is a happy, loveable dog. We are learning to communicate more everyday. Human companions: Nicole, fianc� Max, and 3 stepkids-to-be (Max, Tenessa and Coltin) Other pets: Clipper (hearing aussie), 2 rescue cats Tabitha and Moonpie, Oscar a bare-eyed cockatoo, 5 cockatiels (most rescues), 2 disabled budgies (rescues) Email: nicjojen@yahoo.com

CJ	Town: Kent, Washington Deaf dog: CJ is an Australian Shepherd born on 6/20/03. "She was given to me by a good friend that owns her mom and dad. Her Dad is AKC registered, her mom is a non papered pure bred. CJ is a warm welcome to our family." Human companions: CJ's mom Diana, dad Kelly, kids Nikkea, Lorissa, Joshua & Andrea Other pets: Blue & Gold Macaw - Rodan, Fish Email: kellyswifediana@yahoo.com

	Town: Vancouver, Washington Deaf dog: Spitfire is an 11 week old Doberman. "My husband works for a pet clinic and he called me one day to tell me that there were three Doberman dogs that were deaf and possibly blind and that they were going to be put to sleep unless we took them. Well, we just couldn't have that so I went right away to pick them up. We found two of them homes with loving families and kept Spitfire. Turned out that all three were deaf but not blind. Her dad is in the top 10 in the nation for best in show. She is such a lover! She is constantly under our feet and wanting to be held. I studied ASL for five years through high school and college and never new I would be applying it to my pet!" Human companions: Carrie & Matt Melton, Nikki and Jullian. Other pets: Almost all of these are rescues: Honey Bear, Brussels Griffon; Burmese Python; Red Tail Boa; Dumeril Boa; Nero, an Alligator; rats; Boo Boo and Caboodle, Persian cats, and two kittens, BabaBooy and Baby; and a Blue Tongued Skink. Email: shoppersavy@earthlink.net

Snickers	Town: Bellingham, Washington Deaf dogs: Snickers is a 5-1/2 year old Dachshund. "Snickers is the just the coolest dog I know. He came in through Dachshund rescue in Florida and was about to be put to sleep because his young owner did not think anyone would want a deaf dog. When I picked him up to foster him, I told my husband..This boy is ours! He loves to snuggle and he looks at everything upside down ...it is the funniest thing! When people meet him they start out by feeling sorry for him and I tell them...he does not know he is deaf and he is a typical dachshund...cute and stubborn! When he does not want to "hear" me sign to him he just looks the other way." Ginger is a 13 year old Cairn Terrier. "Ginger was a rescue we got in Arizona..her owners had her for 8 years and decided they did not want dogs anymore! She has been a terrific girl! If you have mice anywhere she will find them and she has springs on her legs and can jump about 6 feet from a perfect stand still. About 6 months ago I noticed she was not coming to me when I called her and am now using the same signs I use with Snickers. She is doing pretty well with them..I just have to work on getting her attention! Other than losing her hearing she is happy and healthy and still plays with the other furkids in the house! We have been involved in Dachshund Rescue and deaf dog rescue in Arizona, Florida and Washington states." Human companions: Shelly & Bill Moquin Other pets: Ellie, a Scottish Terrier; Chloe, a Dachshund; Rocky, an old man Dachshund; 2 dapple Dachshund puppy rescues; Wesley, a West Highland Terrier therapy dog. Email: shmrck2000@aol.com

Rikki	Town: Benton City, Washington Deaf dog: Rikki is an Australian Shepherd. Rikki is a great boat dog. Pogo is Rikki's son. Human companions: Gordon and Nancy Downey Other pets: 12 cats and Toby, male Australian Shepherd Email: seahawkfan49@msn.com

	Town: Poulsbo, Washington Deaf dog: Henry is a 3 year old Great Pyrenese/Newfoundland mix. "Sir Henry came to me from the state of Texas. I adopted him in April of 2003. They thought his deafness was from ear infections and that his hearing might improve with treatment. I began treating Henry's ears upon his arrival here and I have had testing done and found that Henry will never hear. He also shakes his head due to his middle ear being closed off. He is a sweet dog and he and I are learning to comunicate with each other via sign and body language. I had no idea how to handle a Great Pyrenese and a deaf one at that - Henry gives me constant challenges, and sometimes I sense his deep sadness. He is a working dog and keeps the coyotes off of our farm. Henry's herd consists of some Norwegian Forest cats. Before Henry came to our farm our cats could not go outside for fear of being eaten by the many coyotes that live in this valley. Since Henry arrived and went to work we have lost no cats or rabbits from coyote abduction. Henry was in sad shape upon arrival, yet with a lot of careful dog grooming he is a beautiful 130 pound polar bear of a dog. He prefers to sleep outside, but has the run of the house too! Henry enjoys going to the beach for a swim. He had never had a bath or a swim prior to coming here to us. He is an avid swimmer and loves the water, even in the winter. He waits patiently by the car every afternoon in hopes he can ride to the nearby beaches for a swim." Human companions: Ky Mears and granddaughter Paige, 4. Other pets: 6 horses, one blind horse named Sly; Lucy, Bernese Mountain Dog, my seizure assist dog; Jackie Chan, Bernese Mountain Dog/Lab mix pup; Three rescued cats and two regular cats. Email: mearsky@msn.com

	Town: Seattle, Washington Deaf dog: Keona is a 8 month old Australian Shepherd. "Our new darling puppy is deaf and 3/4 blind and 110% happy puppy! She gets to know her surroundings quickly and responds to changes in light and close movements. Rescued from death row after a car accident by another party, she has made her home with us. Keona enjoys fast chases with our other dog in the yard and trying to find where her ball rolls to. Looking forward to learning experiences and obedience class. We are the lucky ones to have her in our lives!" Human companion: Holly Fraser Other pets: Chaco, a Pomeranian/Sheltie mix. Email: hofrase@hotmail.com

Paisley	Town: Langley Island, Washington Deaf dog: Paisley is a Australian Shepherd that is very visual and attentive. Also one of the mellowest puppies I've ever met (keeping in mind his breed-related enthusiasm; he's high energy, but nothing phases him). All the defense-biting and other things people warned be about with a deaf dog have been totally false - when startled, Pais turns around and gives kisses then goes back to sleep. We got Paisley at 7 weeks of age and we've never regretted it. Human companions: Marnie & Mat Jones, 4 year old daughter, Mia and another baby on the way. Other pets: Mirri, 10 year old Australian Cattle Dog, two cats and five horses. Email: afatbrownmare@yahoo.com
	Town: Sammamish, Washington Deaf dog: Spot is a 5 month old congenitally deaf Pit Bull Terrier. Human companions: Nicole, John, Jarin and John Jr. Other pets: 1 cat Email: nicolesdefdog@aol.com

Jake	Town: Bothell, Washington Deaf dog: Jake, formerly Lou on DDEAF, is a 3-1/2 year old Boxer. "Jake is a wonderful dog who was rescued by a fabulous woman in New Mexico. We found him on the Deaf Dogs Web site and fell in love with him before we ever met him. We feel very fortunate to have him in our lives as he is the sweetest and most loving dog we could ask for. It was a bit of a rough go at first as he was not all that house trained, knew no hand signals, and suffers from horrible separation anxiety. Two years later, he is still a velcro dog, but he is pretty well trained with hand signals and tries his best to please. THANK YOU NANCY for adopting him out to us!" Human companions: Megan & John Mills, and Raven, 7 and Kellen, 4. Other pets: Cain, hearing white boxer and 4 cats. Email: mills1996@msn.com

	Town: Lacey, Washington Deaf dog: Lucy is a 9 month old Spaniel mix. "I got Lucy from the Lewis County Animal Shelter. They did not know she was deaf. I chose her like I chose my other two - the only dog which was not barking! We are both learning how to communicate and my other hearing dog, Kiko, is picking up the signs, too. For those in the Pacific Northwest, check out the Yahoo group pnwdeafdogs. " Human companions: Renee Hunter Other pets: Ms. Purrl, cat who purrs when you look at her and runs the house;Christi - off to college daughter's old cat; and Kiko, Pound puppy I think is an Australian Kelpie mix. Email: reneehun@comcast.net

	Town: Spokane, Washington Deaf dog: Bobbi, an Australian Shepherd mix. "Bobbi crossed the Rainbow Bridge in January of 2004 after I remarried and moved to Spokane, Washington from Colorado in November 2002. She was 14 years old. She is greatly missed. Cinco, my cat misses her but we have other canine and feline companions now!" Human companion: Elaine and Rodney Navratil Other pets: Cinco, a female black cat. Email: eenavratil@comcast.net

	Town: Springdale, Washington Deaf dog: Isabel, is an 8 week old Australian Shepherd. "Izzy is a double merle Aussie, and has sight in one eye, and is totally deaf. I also own her half sister who has no impairments. This is my first deaf dog, and I'm just learning the best ways to communicate with her. Her breeder believes it's "worth the risk" to breed her two merles, and normally just "gets rid of" the ones she thinks are deaf or blind, when they are born. Luckily Izzy beat the odds. She loves to play with my two other dogs and the cats, and loves to snuggle. We have a ranch, and she is going to be my "truck dog", and go everywhere with me." Human companions: Jill and Fred Other pets: 3 cats and 3 dogs. Email: trailhorse@joimail.com

	Town: Marysville, Washington Deaf dog: Cooper is an American Bulldog. "Cooper has adjusted to life very nicely in suburbia. He loves to show of his many toys and has finally stopped growing. He has filled out to a nice 70lbs and loves his big back yard. I find it difficult to leave him to go to work and look forward to hearing the dog door slap as he comes inside to greet me. This starts the 20 to 30 minutes of excited greeting." Human companions: Rik Whitesell Email: jeffcheats@hotmail.com

	Town: Woodland, Washington Deaf dog: Carmella is a 9 month old Boxer. "Carmella is such a loving girl. She's so attentive to everything around her. Often we forget that she's deaf and find ourselves amazed at how well she 'listens' given her situation. She's a little cup of sugar and constantly makes us laugh. We love this little girl." Human companions: Michelle Anderson Other pets: Tyson is just a month older than Carmella. He's a true clown. Just the silliest guy. Email: shellsobe@hotmail.com

Dodger	Town: Seattle, Washington Deaf dog: Dodger is a 1 year old Border Collie/Beagle/Shih Tzu. "I adopted Dodger from the Humane Society. We did not realize he was deaf until a few months later. His original owners never picked up on it either. He's very skilled at reading body language and keeps his eyes on me most of the time. He's a very loving, laid back dog who is starting obedience classes in hopes of doing agility eventually. I also hope to get him certified as a therapy dog. He loves people and is very good with children and people with physical disabilities." Human companions: Meghan McFadden and 2 sons, 14 and 16 Other pets: 2 Hamsters (Sam-Sam and Ham-Ham) and 1 outdoor cat (Toby) Email: Irisheyesmeg@aol.com

Zoe	Town: Everett, Washington Deaf dog: Zoe is a 1 year old Italian Greyhound. "Zoe came to me as a rescue at 9 months. It was love a first sight. Found out she was deaf and I looked up some information on deaf dogs. The site was very encouraging to me. I also know that many dogs respond to hand signals as my other 2 hearing dogs do and all of the movie star K-9's. So, what's the beef? This little girl is very intelligent, wants to please and is a love bug. I hope to go just a little further with her through some more training. She is full of energy and wants to please you." Human companions: Rosie & Mac McKinlay Other pets: Bella, 9 yrs. young (2005) & Rufus, almost 6 yrs. young (June 2005). Both are hearing Italian Greyhounds. Email: mygr8houndt@verizon.net

	Town: Olympia, Washington Deaf dog: Boo is a 1-1/2 year old Heeler. "Boo came from a vet tech who had taken him home rather than put him to sleep, as requested by his owner. He was of no use to the owner because his deafness made him "useless as a working cattle dog." He is a typical heeler - VERY active. He gets bored easily, and we take him to Doggie Daycare to keep him entertained while we are at work. He is very submissive with other dogs, very social, and loves to play. He's a handful, but a wonderful boy. He feels safe in the car and is a very good traveler. Outside of the car, our house, and Doggie Daycare, he is afraid of EVERYTHING, however. Our other dog, Darcy, is older, and he drives her crazy, attempting constantly to play with her. He has picked up many of her idiocyncracies. I love the relationship that his deafness has fostered. We really do communicate without talking - it's all about facial expression and body language. While we use signs at times, he reads our faces very well. Boo is a very special dog and we love him dearly." Human companions: Janet and Jerry McClanahan Other pets: Darcy, our dog; and Toothache, our cat. Email: janet@janetmcclanahanlaw.com

	Town: Spokane, Washington Deaf dog: Aspen is a 4 year old Great Dane. "I have had Aspen since the day that she was born - my mom had her mother and kept her sister. I started to train Aspen and then could not give her to someone else. I love her and nothing could replace her, she is really smart and loves to be loved!" Human companions: Sabrina Riepe Other pets: a cat and a rabbit Email: snowyaspen1@msn.com

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