I get at least 30 to 50 emails a day, most of which are questions regarding deaf dogs or adoptable deaf dog listings for our website Deaf Dogs Rock. At the beginning of last week I got an email that was listed as urgent. The email was from a co-worker of a lady who was in dire need of re-homing her deaf puppy. As it turns out the deaf dog in need was a 6 month old border collie named Chilly. Poor Chilly was stuck in the middle of a horrible divorce. The soon to be ex-wife had to leave her home out in the country and the puppy  was behind out in a muddy kennel. The co-worker Cristine was very concerned for her friends dog and she told me the puppy was only getting fed once in a while. I asked Cristine  if there was any way she could try to go back out and check on the dog and also to take some photos as when I have photos it is much easier to make an urgent plea for help. I thought maybe we would get lucky and find a rescue in Alabama who might take a deaf puppy.

When I finally got the photos from Cristine of the Chilly and saw the conditions he was in, I felt sick to my stomach. I decided at that very second that time was of the essence in this situation. I truly felt trying to find a rescue who had room for Chilly would risk his life because it would may take to long to get them to commit to taking a deaf puppy. I started to panic so I picked up the phone and called Cristine to see if she would be willing to drive Chilly four hours North and I would drive 3 South to meet her in Kingsport TN.

Photos of deaf border collie Chilly in AL:( L)-Chilly when he was a puppy. (C) Chilly – 6 months – isolated in a dumpy kennel (R) Chilly living in deplorable conditions. 

As I was speaking to Cristine on the phone, I was typing an email to my friends Anita and Michelle at the Franklin County Humane Society to see if they would accept a 6 month old deaf Border Collie into their shelter for Deaf Dogs Rock. I told them the woman who owned the puppy was very worried her estranged husband would harm the dog. The soon to be ex-husband had threatened to shoot the puppy if his wife didn’t get it off their property immediately. I never take threats like violence against animals lightly.

I was very lucky that both of my rescue friends from the FCHS were on their computers at 8:45 Thursday night because they not only agreed to take the deaf dog into their shelter but they also lined up a foster family for Chilly. This situation was almost to good to be true. Not only had they agreed to help me rescue Chilly, but they also made it possible for Chilly to be loved, re-socialized, and learn to live as an inside dog again.

Late Thursday night I decided to share the photos of Chilly with our Deaf Dogs Rock Facebook followers asking them if they wanted to participate in a rescue by providing financial support for transport, medical and boarding if needed . The generosity displayed on our DDR Support page Thursday night and Friday by our Deaf Dogs Rock Facebook community blew me away!  I got up at the crack of dawn on Saturday morning and I drove to Kingsport, TN to rendezvous with Cristine to pick up Chilly. I asked her if she could go Friday and pick up Chilly from the muddy kennel and get him ready for transport. She agreed to pick him up and she called me late Friday night to let me know he was doing fine. I was so worried about him –  I was glad to hear he was out of danger.

 

Photo above: (top L.) The person responsible for contacting Deaf Dogs Rock to save Chilly – Cristine Garner from Alabama (Bottom): Chilly in the DDR Transport vehicle.

Saturday morning came very early. It was a long day and it took me twelve hours from the time I left home until the time I returned back to the farm. Because of all the donations that came in to save Chilly, I was able to pay for gas for the transport, give the FCHS shelter a donation to cover any medical, foster needs, and an adoption sponsorship for Chilly. Because adoption fees can run high, I felt an adoption sponsorship of $100 to go towards Chilly’s adoption fee would help save potential adopters money because most likely they will be coming from out of state. This way Chilly’s adoption fee will only be $75.00. As we already have two very nice people interested in adopting Chilly, and they both live in other states, this will help them with some of their travel expenses.

Chilly makes it to rescue in Virginia

Photo: Christina Lee of Deaf Dogs Rock giving some extra special attention to Chilly the deaf 6 month old Border Collie from Alabama – Rescue Run 3-2-2013

I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you! Because of all you and your support for Chilly and Deaf Dogs Rock, another deaf dog was able to be rescued from starvation and death. Without a amazing team of dedicated deaf dog owners and supporters, Deaf Dogs Rock would not be able to do what we do.

Photo: Christina Lee Founder of Deaf Dogs Rock with rescue deaf dog Chilly.

God Bless all of you and thank you so much for your continued support. Deaf Dogs Rock!

~ Christina Lee – Deaf Dogs Rock