Meet adoptable deaf three year old Sophia who is looking for a loving forever home with someone who will provide Sophia with a safe and structured home environment to set her up for success.

From her caregiver: Sophia. She is a 3-year-old spayed female pit bull who is deaf.
I recently pulled her from the 72 hour euthanasia list at Carson Animal shelter to save her life and in hopes that she would be a good fit for our big family.

This is an incredibly difficult decision for our family, but I believe Sophia needs a home that is better suited to her individual needs, and I want to do everything possible to place her responsibly rather than surrendering her to a shelter.

Sophia is extremely loving, affectionate, playful, active, and deeply attached to her people. She loves attention and being close to her person. She is also deaf, so she benefits from someone who understands—or is willing to learn—visual communication and training with a deaf dog. I did teach her basic hand commands sit, stay, down, quiet. She walks great on a leash, loves to play fetch with my daughter and I. Loves most dogs but can be selective.

The reason I am seeking rescue placement is because Sophia has developed significant resource-guarding and possessive behaviors in our multi-dog household. She has reacted toward other dogs over food, toys, my attention, and when another dog approaches her in certain situations. She can lunge repeatedly during these incidents, so I believe she would be safest as the only dog in her next home unless a qualified rescue or behavior professional determines otherwise.

My biggest concern is a behavior involving my young daughter. Sophia generally loves my daughter and can be very affectionate with her. However, Sophia appears to become possessive or protective of me. When my daughter approaches me, Sophia will sometimes jump up/intervene between us. Although she has not bitten my daughter, her body language and escalation make me concerned that a bite could occur. Because of that, I do not feel comfortable taking any chances, and I believe Sophia needs an adult-only home with no children. (Note from DDR: this can be addressed by leaving the room every time she gets possessive, in other words all attention to the dog STOPS, also start Nothing In Life is Free training and also utilize Time Out Training in other words structure).

I want to be completely transparent about these behaviors so that Sophia can be placed safely and successfully. I am not looking to simply hand her off to another family without disclosing her history.

Outside of these situations, Sophia has so many wonderful qualities. She is young, active, affectionate, and incredibly people-oriented. I believe she could thrive with an experienced owner in a structured, lower-conflict environment where she is the only pet and doesn’t feel the need to compete for resources or attention.

I am willing to help with the transition and provide her medical information, photographs, videos, supplies, and anything else that would help a rescue evaluate her. I am also willing to discuss keeping her temporarily while an appropriate foster or placement is located if that helps avoid her entering a shelter.

I understand that behavioral cases can be difficult to place, but I am hoping your organization may be able to help Sophia directly or connect me with a rescue, foster, trainer, or sanctuary experienced with deaf dogs and/or bully breeds.

Sophia:
• 4-year-old female pit bull
• Deaf
• Spayed
• Very affectionate and people-oriented
• Active and playful
• Resource guarding involving food, toys, and attention
• Has shown resource guarding toward other the dogs during guarding situations (at DDR we have no toys or bones laying around and a very structured routine and every dog is fed separately in their crates)
• Possible guarding/protective behavior involving me when my child approaches
• No known bite to my daughter
• Best suited to an experienced, adult-only home
• Preferably the only pet

We are located in Lake Arrowhead, California, but I am willing to consider transportation within Southern California or farther for the right reputable rescue or placement.

Thank you for taking the time to read about Sophia. Even if you cannot take her, I would be incredibly grateful for referrals to another organization that may be able to help.

If you think you can provide a positive structured environment (no spoiling) for Sophia and are interested in adopting her please contact Sarah at: s.kirschke1@gmail.com

 

Sophia’s adoption fee is $200 to a screened and approved home with someone who lives within 75 miles of Lake Arrowhead CA