This Happy Tail was submitted by Sadie’s mom Sherri. Thanks Sharri for telling Sadie’s story!

This is a testimonial not only to the joys of owning a deaf dog, but a deaf senior dog as well. Last year, we received a call that a 14 year old Westie girl had been dropped off at our local kill shelter. She was badly neglected and her owners were moving and did not opt to take her. She had some health problems to attend to, including severe ear infections.

Although our vet treated her and cleared up the ear infections, Sadie Mae is totally deaf. I was more than a little apprehensive. First, to adopt such an elderly dog, and second, I had no experience with a deaf dog. Fast forward to today: Sadie Mae is the most wonderful dog I have ever had the pleasure of sharing my life with. She is quiet, loving, fearless, and what a personality…she rules over this house as her kingdom.

We have developed our own routines, and she follows my lead as well as some basic hand signals. Also, she learned to ring the bells on the door to go outside! Talk about teaching an old dog new tricks…and a deaf dog at that! She is truly amazing. Sadie surprises me almost every day with something new she has learned or can do. She has convinced me that not only do Deaf Dogs Rock, but Senior Dogs Rock as well! I’d do it again in a heartbeat, and hope to adopt more deaf/special needs dogs in the future.

For anyone on the fence about adopting a deaf dog…do it, you will not regret it!