Here is Kim’s Deaf Dogs Rock Fundraising story:

Sherwood’s Forest

As some of you may or may not know, we the Balboni family lost a very special companion and member of our family. On February 28th our beloved deaf Dalmatian Sherwood passed away. In honor of what would have been his 2nd birthday on June 1st, the dogs are going to be making the Tree of Life in our lobby. Please help us decorate our tree with by purchasing a tree leaf and giving us a photograph of a present or past companion, whether it be a dog, cat, person, or another small animal who meant something very special to your heart. Each leaf will cost five dollars and all money the money raised and collected is going to go to a rescue organization that helps in placing and networking deaf dogs called Deaf Dogs Rock.  We thank you in advance for making our tree full of memories.

Here is Kim’s Deaf Dogs Rock Story:

I have always liked challenges and Dalmatians. When I finished my schooling I got myself a Dalmatian pup, everyone told me the breed was stubborn I thought perfect if I can train this stubborn breed other things will be a breeze. I became a certified trainer and took my Dalmatian to agility trails and did lots of trick training. She wasn’t that stubborn of a dog to train.

My parents fell in love with her and when it was time for me to move out on my own they begged me to leave her with them. She was baby so I told them I’m sorry but she goes where I go. About 6 months later my father approached me and said they found this Dalmatian that needed a home on some rescue site. It stated she was 9 months old and at 6 different homes and she was in a kill shelter in Manhattan NY. I told him I would help train her if he was serious about her, so we hopped in the car and drove to meet her.  The dalmatian pup was full of energy, but we thought what young pup wouldn’t be after being in a cages environment. We filled out the adoption application and Penney was coming home with us.

On the way home in the car my husband and I noticed Penny didn’t pay much attention to a squeaky toy we had purchased  for her homecoming.  When my father pulled into the driveway of her new home my mother greeted her with open arms. As the dog ran past her,  she never seemed frightened of all the chaos and noises around her.

I knew the deafness trait was quite common in the Dalmatian breed, so I did a few tests to see if I could get Penny’s attention. She did not react to any of the sound distractions I was making. I decided to break the news to my parents because I had a feeling she could not hear. The next morning when my parents woke up and went down the stairs to check on her, she never peaked her head up to the whistling of my father and the good “morning girl” greeting my mom gave her. Yup this confirmed Penny was indeed deaf. Right away my parents had doubts that they could raise a deaf dog. I reassured them that I would be there every step of the way to help out with her training.  It certainly would not be fair to have her go to another home.

With intense sign command training using positive reinforcement, my parents and I were able to teach Penny the signs for ” time to eat”, “go for a walk”, and to “watch me”. We taught obedience all with hand signals. My father would have Penny “check in” ever few minutes, he would use a hand signal to tell her to “come” to him and then he would treat her with a high value food treat.

With consistent training Penny started to check in often on her own every few minutes. She was one of the best companion dogs a person could ask for. She was very loyal to her family and an all around great dog.  Penny would even allow my children to pet her, lay on her, and play ball with her. She did not have one aggressive or fearful bone in her entire body that people often say is associated with owning a deaf dog.

The Tree of Life

Ten years later I myself rescued a deaf Dalmatian and named him Puck.  Although Puck has learned a lot from his hearing Dalmatian friends Perdie and Kalamata, he runs agility with all hand signals with my 9 year old son. Puck also attends the Doggy Day Care that we own and he plays very nicely with all the dogs in his class. Since we rescued Puck three years ago we have also rescued two other hearing impaired Dalmatians. Our latest rescues are  a one year old female Dalmatian named Jersey and our now deceased young male Dalmatian Sherwood. Sherwood just recently passed away unexpectedly. In honor of our sweet Sherman we have decided to do a fundraiser in his honor with all proceeds going to Deaf Dogs Rock so they can help other deaf dogs in need of help.

Above photo: Kim’s deaf dogs Jersey and Puck

I wanted to do something special at our Good Dog University and K9 Daycare, so I put a Sherwood Forest Tree of Life where we asked the owners of the dogs who attend our Doggy Daycare if they would like to purchase a leaf to go on the Tree of Life (we painted a big tree on one of our walls). We asked our patrons to participate by buying a leaf for $ 5.00 each and we would have them place a picture of one of their lost loved ones. The photo could be in memory of an animal or a person or in honor of a living person or animal.

For each leaf we sell to go on our Tree of Life, all the money raised from our Tree of Life Fundraiser will be donated directly to Deaf Dogs Rock. Sherwood was a young dog who passed away way to young and the Vets suspected he had an abnormal liver. The Vets said that even if we elected to go with a special surgery there was only a  20% chance of recovery so my sweet Sherwood passed in my arms on February 28th 2013.

Photo of Sherwood celebrating his first birthday. 

If it wasnt for my parents dog Penney 14 years ago, (she is still living at a ripe age if 14) I would never know how special the hearing impaired dogs really are and can be.

We currently live on 12 acres of land and own a Doggie Daycare that all our hearing impaired dogs attend on a daily basis.

Sport is very calm, friendly and sometimes aloof until he gets to know a new person. He has little interest in cats and ignores other dogs. He is such a good boy and he does no resource guarding at all. He knows a few sign commands for “sit”, “paw” or “shake” and “lay down”.

Sport should transition into a new home with patience and love. Because Sport is deaf he needs to live in a home with access to a secure yard to keep him safe. He needs to live inside with his new family but have access to a fenced yard. Deaf dogs do not do well isolated and kenneled out back or chained to a tree or dog house. They need to be with the ones they bond with.

Sport is located in Santa Barbara, CA.

If you think you can give Sport a loving home and want to meet him please contact Rosalie – Santa Barbara Shelter Volunteer at 805-968-2112 or email her at rosalie@cusutom-env.com

He is located at the Animal Protective Services at 1705 South Hanley Road in Saint Louis, MO. 63144

Voice: 314-645-4610   Fax: 314-645-3292

If interested in Blue, please call (314) 645-4610 at the Animal Protective Association of Missouri ( ID number A032733)

Thank you!

–

amanda piel

digital intern

Comet was born deaf and has night blindness; yet, this has not stopped him from living a normal healthy dog’s life. Despite his disabilities, he absolutely loves people; belly rubs, going for walks (he walks really well on leash!), and naps and happily plays with other dogs. In addition, he will also need time and positive reassurance when he’s adjusting to his new forever home.

He would prefer to go to a home where someone can be with him most of the time. He can see silhouettes and shadows of objects/people at night and may sometimes get scared. He has been a participant in our Healing Paws Program. Healing Paws is our division of the Missouri Puppies for Parole Program. Comet is crate trained, house broken, leash broken, knows his commands of sit, stay, heel, roll over all with American Sign language.

Whoever falls in love with this handsome boy, will have an awesome loyal companion that will always greet you with his pink nose and wagging tail.

Comet is neutered and up to date on his shots and worming. His adoption fee is $125.00. We can arrange transport for an additional fee.

Please call The Animal Shelter of Texas County at 417-967-0700 Monday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. to make arrangements to meet Comet today.

When we went to the shelter to visit Sydney, she was frightened and hiding in the corner of her kennel. It broke my heart to see her so scared. Since her time was up at the shelter, we couldn’t stand the thought of them putting her to sleep. We just had to save her and take her home with us.

We rescued Sydney just a few weeks ago on 8 -11-11. From the minute we walked out of the shelter on our way out to the car, Sydney became a totally different dog. All of a sudden she was this happy dog (I suspect it was because she was so happy to get out of doggy jail) with a big smile on her face and her tail wagging her entire body!

When we took Sydney home to meet her new doggy brothers and sisters (we have a hearing Aussie, a Pomeranian and seven cats) we discovered they all adored Sydney from the moment they laid eyes on her!

I think Sydney was abused in her past but now we spoil her and she gets the run of the house. It used to make me sad knowing she had it so rough but now when I see how happy she is, it warms my heart. I don’t think her previous owners worked with her much as far as training her but now she is coming along very well and learning hand commands.  It takes her some time to figure things out because she deaf but with patience and love she is improving daily. She is getting to know some hand signals and we are looking forward to signing her up for her first obedience class for deaf dogs. She has only been our’s for about two weeks but in that time she has come a long way towards trusting us. I have personally been working with her every day to show her we are here to love her and not harm her.

Sydney is 100% puppy and you can tell by her personality that she is happy to be alive.

Our family is new to having a deaf dog but we all love and adore Sydney. She is definitely stuck with us for life!

Sara Knutson -Vet Tech Student  -  Rochester MN

Thanks Sara for sharing Sydney’s story with Deaf Dogs Rock. According to my dog Nitro you and your family Rock for saving Sydney’s life.

My fiancée Justin and I have a 100% deaf American bulldog named Marlie who is truly the love of our lives. Marlie’s Happy Tail begins the first day when we went to the house that had her for sale. As soon as she spotted us, she escaped out from under the fence they were keeping her in and she made a bee-line straight for me. If we walked away and called her, she came running after us. Originally we didn’t pick her, she picked us! We happily loaded her into our truck and headed for her first outing, a birthday party for our friends’ 1 year old son.

Marlie was so well-behaved and sweet that everyone who met her,  instantly adored her. We even have a photo of her wearing a birthday hat! After the birthday party we headed home. Both of us were amazed at how soundly she slept the two hours on our long drive back home. None of the noises seemed to wake her, not us talking, the radio, passing traffic, not even the car doors slamming. We both figured she must be really tired from all the party excitement! It only took us until the end of the day for us to agree without a doubt that she was deaf and it was then that we decided to take her back to the person that sold her to us. The reason we were going to take her back wasn’t because we didn’t want a “special needs” dog, but that we were afraid that perhaps raising a deaf dog was going to be something we wouldn’t be able to do correctly. We asked ourselves what if she ran away or got hit by a car? There was just too much uncertainty.

The very next morning my fiancée picked her up from our bed where she had snuggled with me that whole first night and he told me to say good-bye. He then set out on the dreaded trip to return her. I have never cried so hard in all my life. I was a miserable wreck even though I had only known Marlie for a few hours. About an hour later, he walked back in the front door where I was pathetically enough still sobbing. I was totally confused because he hadn’t been gone long enough to make the round-trip drive. I stopped crying long enough to look up and see he had tears in his eyes also, and before I could open my mouth to ask a question I saw her tiny body trotting gingerly in the door behind him. “I couldn’t do it,” he said. Ever since that fateful day we have been one happy family for the last 4 1/2 years.

Marlie is so smart and she knows hand signals for come, sit, stay, up, and lay down. She does tricks such as high fives and she can even play dead when I “shoot” her with my fingers made to look like a gun. She is truly the most popular dog in our neighborhood. It seems like no matter where we go people are always drawn to her. They constantly come up and ask us if they can pet or play with her. My sweet deaf dog Marlie has the kindest heart, most beautiful soul, and I can’t believe how close we came to losing out on the joy of being her parents.

Meet sweet Cookie. She is a deaf 12 week old full blooded Australian Cattle Dog (Red Heeler) puppy located in Houston, MO. She was brought to the shelter when her owners discovered she was deaf and they realized she could get hurt or killed by livestock on the ranch.  The shelter is going to place her in the Healing Paws Program, so she can be trained with sign language. Cookie is very smart! She is spayed, up to date on shots and wormers, and ready to find her special forever home. When Cookie finishes the Healing Paws Program, she will be crate trained, house trained, and she will know many sign commands and even some special tricks.

Cookie’s adoption fee is $125.00. Please call the shelter at 417-967-0700 Monday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. to make arrangements to see Cookie today.

They can arrange transport to most anywhere for an additional fee. So do not let distance deter you from adopting Cookie

Cookie is looking for a kind, patient, loving person who will let her live inside with her person but also have access to a secure fenced yard to keep her safe. She needs a person who will step up and continue her training by using positive reinforcement training consistently so she can grow up to be the best dog she can be. Red Heeler pups are working dogs and they do not do well in an apartment environment. They need lots of exercise or they get bored and tend to chew things up. A deaf Red Heeler is not for a The Faint of Heart but for an active person who takes pride in helping their deaf dog be the best she can be through training and exercise (someone who does not shy away from a challenge).

MORE ABOUT COOKIE – To see Cookie’s Petfinder listing, please click here. 

Spayed/Neutered • Up-to-date with routine shots • House trained • Special Needs • Primary colors: Red, Chestnut or Orange, White or Cream • Coat length: Short

COOKIE * P4P’S CONTACT INFO

The Animal Shelter of Texas County, Houston, MO

417-967-0700

Email The Animal Shelter of Texas County at texascountyanimals@hotmail.com

Hi, my name is Fender and I am looking for my forever home. I was originally in a kill shelter when the nice staff at The Madison County Humane Society, a no kill shelter, pulled me. They believe I am either a Boxer/Lab or an American Bulldog/Boxer mix….Whatever I am, I pull it off well! Did you see my partial blue eyes? They seem to really catch everyone’s attention! I am DEAF so my forever home will need to be very dog-savvy and have the proper home to accommodate my size and special needs.

I am very smart and eager to learn. I am currently working with one of the staff members and have already learned how to “sit,” “come,” and “lay down” with sign language. I am very sweet boy who loves to have a good time! I would really enjoy an active home with older/no children where I can be the only pet (I want to be the center of your world!)

Please feel free to send me a message and I can tell you all about myself and the home I’m looking for!”

Fender is such a sweet, loving boy! I’m currently working with him and think we’ll be starting some agility work soon! (: I’m including some pictures of him….and have made a facebook page for him “Fender The Great”

Thanks!

Lauren Caldwell

Madison County Humane Society

2219 Crystal Street

Anderson, IN 46012

765-644-6484

Fax: 765-644-7528