Update 6-17-2016: Leia has been adopted locally by Jessica and Jeff. This was their “gotcha day” photo when they picked up Leia on 6/16/16. Congratulations Leia, Jessica and Jeff. The best part about it is maybe Leia can come to the Deaf Dogs Rock dog park and have play dates with Bud and Nitro.

Photo courtesy of Jessica and Jeff Francisco 

When a family realizes their new puppy is deaf, they have some tough decisions to make. Sometimes they have small children and feel like they will not have the time to socialize and train a deaf puppy. Other times they might fear for their small children being safe around a deaf puppy because they just aren’t familiar with being around deaf dogs or puppies. Some deaf dogs do great around small children and other deaf dogs not so much. My deaf dogs Nitro and Bowie love kids but my deaf dog Bud, not so much.

Leia is one of those sweet pups who’s new family needed some help from Deaf Dogs Rock. We are here to advocate and help dogs and puppies just like Leia. When her new owner found out she was deaf, she loved her enough to reach out to Deaf Dogs Rock for help and we were happy to offer her a rescue sponsorship through our Deaf Dogs Rock Rocker Puppy Program. As luck would have it we got a very special donation the day after Leia got to Virginia by a wonderful donor out of Washington state. So now Leia can get her spay surgery and get what she needs to be ready to go to her new home (thanks Paddy).

Our program is set up so (finances permitting) we can sponsor deaf puppies just like Leia into a special needs rescue here in Virginia. Leia is a Catahoula Leopard dog from Louisiana. Thanks to Green Dogs Unleashed for excepting her into your rescue here in Virginia and to Alicia for reaching out to DDR for help with Leia.

A big thank you and shout out goes out to the Highway Heroes Rescue Transport Team for organizing her transport from Louisiana to Virginia. I was fortunate enough to be part of her transport team so I got to meet her while I transported her to Green Dogs Unleashed in Troy, Virginia.

Photo above: Christina Lee with Leia transporting her in the DDR Transport vehicle. 

Dana’s transport team (part of HHRT) handing Leia over to Deaf Dogs Rock for her next to last leg of her transport. 

To say deaf puppy Leia is beautiful would be an understatement. She is just stunning and has a beautiful sweet spirit about her. Someone is going to get a great dog! Actually when I think about it, someone is going to win the deaf dog lottery when it comes to adopting Leia!

If you want to know more about Green Dogs Unleashed and their adoption process (you can inquire about Leia), be sure to click here to go to their website.

Welcome to Virginia and Green Dogs Unleashed Leia. You are a #rockerpuppy for sure!

~ Christina Lee – Deaf Dogs Rock