The Best Way to Find Your New Deaf Dog at Your Local Shelter
By: Christina Lee – Deaf Dogs Rock
All the deaf dogs in this photo were adopted locally!
I get so many emails from hearing and Deaf individuals looking to adopt a deaf dog to add to their family. Some of the emails I receive state that they have had deaf dogs in the family before and the deaf dog has recently passed away. Others I hear from are families that may have one or more Deaf family members looking to rescue and adopt a deaf dog of their own.
Because our Adoptable Deaf Dog listings on DeafDogsRock.com are all over the country and in many cases too far away, families don’t have an opportunity to meet a deaf dog they may be interested in adopting. Many times the deaf dog we have listed is just too far away or in another state all together. We feel very strongly that each person who thinking about adopting a deaf dog should meet the dog first to make sure the deaf dog will be a good fit for the family. Also I think it is very important to do your research.
Many of the dogs in the shelters are mixed bully breeds who are not trained, are very high energy and may not be properly socialized at a young age. Not to be negative but to point out the fact you need to be prepared and have a plan in place on how you will deal with the day to day training issues. Where will the dog be when you are at work during the day for example? Do you have time to exercise the dog? What if you have challenges with your new dog such as jumping, barking, counter surfing, constant chewing, or having potty accidents throughout your house, will you know how to address these issues before you adopt a deaf dog? Do you know how to properly introduce a deaf dog into a home with other animals and small children? Some deaf dogs are prone to separation anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) so read up on what these behavior issues are so you are familiar with them. These are just a few things you need to address and consider before you bring a new deaf dog into your home. It is crucial you do your research. Become your own “deaf dog expert” by reading and studying as much as you can about adoption and positive reinforcement training methods that can help a shelter dog before you bring one home. Sometimes it takes anywhere from 2-6 weeks for a deaf dog to get comfortable and settle into a new home. Adopting a deaf dog is not for the faint of heart so I want you to be prepared.
This year we adopted our fourth deaf dog (locally) our eight year old red heeler Cornell. We was taken in by Shenandoah Animal Services and was in foster care when his adoption listing came into Deaf Dogs Rock. We listed him available for adoption on Deaf Dogs Rock but kept an eye on his videos his foster family kept sharing (he would smile at the camera) so we decided to go meet him. He is the perfect fit here at our Deaf Dogs Rock Headquarters and farm. All four of our deaf dogs have come from local rescues.
I really want to help each and every one of you who want a deaf dog to join your family. I am going to share with you some tips on the best way to find and add a deaf dog to your family by searching locally. This way you can meet the deaf dog available for adoption in your area before you take the plunge. Meeting the deaf dog first will also give you an opportunity to have a plan in motion to introduce the deaf dog/puppy to existing animals in your family (preferably on neutral territory). You want to get an idea of the deaf dog’s personality, energy level, and any issues the dog might have. You also want to make sure you have enough time for training and socializing a deaf dog. If you have children or other animals in your home, you want to make sure a new dog is a good match with your children but also make sure your resident animals are okay with a new dog being added to your family.
My best advice for you to adopt a new family member is for you to search locally. You would be so surprised to know how many deaf dogs and puppies go through your local shelters on a weekly or monthly basis. I get emails every single week from our local shelters and rescues in my state of Virginia looking for help to place deaf dogs and puppies into loving homes and rescues. They contact Deaf Dogs Rock because they know we can help them by listing the deaf dogs and puppies in their shelters up for adoption. They also realize our Deaf Dogs Rock community will not only network deaf dogs in need of homes but we also have members who are currently looking to add a deaf dog to their families.
Write a Letter To Shelters and Rescues
The advice I give both hearing and Deaf people who write into me asking me where they can find a deaf dog to adopt is for them to sit down and write a letter to your local shelters/rescues. Start by stating who you are, what kind of dog you are looking for (deaf dog), and what deaf dog age group you are looking for (puppy, young adult, adult or a senior dog). Also I encourage you to provide the resources you have ( for example if you are a home owner, or if you have a fenced yard, maybe you work from home ect..). Also be sure to write why you would make a good deaf dog owner . This is especially important with rescues because they have very strict guidelines they follow for a potential adopters to become qualified and this includes a home visit.
Deaf puppy transport with Deaf Dogs Rock taking puppies from Angels of Assisi in Roanoke VA to Green Dogs Unleashed Rescue in Troy, VA.
Rescues in general want for you to provide Veterinary and person references and they want to know specifics about your personal and family life.
A few of the questions a rescue will ask you to provide for example are:
* Do you have a fenced yard? Do you own your home (renters move a lot and many times dogs are not allowed)?
* Who is your Veterinarian?
* Are you home often or do you work a lot of hours?
* If an medical emergency were to arise with the deaf dog do you have the means to pay for Vet care?
* Who will be home with the deaf dog?
* Who will be in charge of the dog’s training and socialization?
* What kind of training commitment will you make to set your deaf dog/puppy up for success?
* What kind of research have you done in living with a deaf dog?
* Will you agree to a home visit?
DeafDogsRock.com is a great training resource to get you started and you can also order “Living With A Deaf Dog” by Susan Cope Becker, although I think Susan is working on a newer more updated version of this book.
* If you rent, do you have permission from the landlord to have a dog?
These are just a few questions you need to be prepared to answer when working and applying for a deaf dog or puppy with any reputable rescue.
For shelters they usually don’t have as many rules and restrictions (but they will ask you about your home situation if you rent or own). So for example I would make several copies of the following sample letter (you can customize your letter with your personal information) and I would take it into all of the local shelters and rescues in your area.
Sample Letter
SAMPLE SHELTER/RESCUE LETTER
To: City of Salem Animal Shelter
Attention: Rebecca Hall (Shelter Director)
From: Sherry Stansell – sstansell@gmail.com – Cell phone number: 555-101-3333
Ref: Looking to adopt a deaf dog/puppy
Dear Shelter Director (it helps if you look up their actual name),
My name is Sherry Stansell and I am looking for a deaf dog to adopt (If you are Deaf let them know you are deaf and why you want to adopt a deaf dog). I am requesting that your team/staff contact me if a deaf dog or puppy comes into your shelter and becomes available for adoption. I realize this is an unusual request but I want to adopt a deaf dog because so many never even make it out of a shelter or onto the adoption floor because they are Deaf. (Here I give them a reason why I am looking for a deaf dog – It could be your deaf dog passed away or you might have a Deaf child you want to pair with a deaf puppy to raise ). My older dog went deaf before she passed away and now I am also taking an American Sign Language Class to learn ASL. I am willing to sign up for Group Positive Reinforcement Training classes locally to be able to effectively communicate and train a deaf dog. (If you can’t take training classes put something to the effect of what you have been studying book (Living With A Deaf Dog) or website wise – maybe even our training blog on DeafDogsRock.com (this way they know you are serious).
I do work from home so I am home often. I also have a nice fenced yard perfect for keeping a deaf dog safe. My new dog will be an inside dog but have access to a secure fenced yard (or here if you don’t have a fenced yard say you will walk the dog often).
Please contact me Sherry Stansell at 5555 Country Road, Salem VA. 555-555-1010. I hope it is okay if I check in with your staff once a month just to keep them aware of the fact I am looking for and committed to adopting a deaf dog. If you get a deaf dog in I would be happy to come and spend time with the dog and get to know the dog by stopping by daily to walk or play with the dog.
Thank you so much for your kind consideration. I truly appreciate your help in finding my family a deaf dog to adopt locally who otherwise might not have an opportunity to live in a happy home.
Sherry Stansell – Salem VA
PS: I can be reached at 555-101-3333 or you can email me at sstancell@gmail.com
If you are a Deaf person who is writing this letter state what is the best way to reach you. If it is by Text then say so or if it is by email then let the shelter staff know which one your prefer.
The above letter is just an example. You can take this letter into the shelter and introduce yourself to the staff and let them know you will be checking in often to see if a deaf dog becomes available. If you are Deaf please add your preference for your communications information. Do not forget to ask for contact information or a business card before you leave the shelter. Ask directly “do you have a business card I can take with me or can you write down the best way to contact you?”. This way if the person you are talking at the shelter has to a direct line, an email address, or even a direct number to their cell phone, that will help you check in often to keep the staff member aware that you are still looking to adopt a deaf dog or puppy. Don’t forget!
Advise from a Shelter Director
I asked our Deaf Dogs Rock Board member Rebecca Custer what she thought of getting a letter from someone interested in meeting and adopting a deaf dog from the City of Salem Animal Shelter (Rebecca is the person who called me when my deaf puppy Nitro came into her shelter – she is the reason I knew about Nitro and the reason I adopted him).
Photo above: Nitro on the day Rebecca told me to swing by the shelter that she had “something” to show me (sweet Nitro)…the rest is history!
Here is what Rebecca had to say about contacting a shelter: “I think checking with the shelter once a month is great, however, I would be happy to also keep an updated list of people specifically looking to adopt a deaf dog/puppy and then call or text them when one comes into our shelter. I would tell them to include some of their personal information with questions for example: How many people in their household? Do they have any other pets? Do they have children and what are their ages? This way we can determine when to contact them and also find out if they want a deaf puppy, young deaf dog, or an older deaf adult dog.
I think coming into our shelter to meet a deaf dog that is available for adoption and volunteering is always a great idea especially if they haven’t had dogs before. Volunteering also works well for a potential deaf dog adopter to get to know the dog before they sign the official adoption papers. Also, if they are Deaf and want to volunteer they may want to bring along a hearing member of their family. This way if they have any questions, they have someone close to them who can help them and it is always safer to have two people with a new dog. If the person is Deaf or hearing they can give us the letter (like your sample letter above) with all their information and they can also write on a piece of paper any questions they may have about the dog or about our shelter. I would also be happy to provide my city cell phone number so a potential adopter can text me or call with the relay phone services and of course they are always welcome to email or message me on Facebook. Rebecca
If you go to a shelter and they say they don’t bother with things like this then you can just go in the shelter every week and check with them (you can also give them a link to this post so they might change their mind and take your contact information).”
From the Perspective of a Deaf Rescue Warrior Woman
I also wanted to get my Deaf friend Cathy Miller’s opinion on some of the hurdles her Deaf friends go through when it comes to them trying to adopt a deaf dog from other rescues. Cathy is an amazing rescue warrior woman who has Deaf Paws Haven Rescue in Kennesaw, GA. Here are some of her comments and concerns regarding Deaf and hearing families adopting one of her deaf rescue dogs. Cathy usually had deaf dogs available for adoption and she can be reached at deafpaws
From Cathy Miller of Deaf Paws Haven Rescue:
“It happened to my deaf friend who wanted to adopt a deaf and blind Aussie which the hearing rescuer turned her down due her deafness. Sigh.
It happened to some rescuers don’t let deaf people to adopt for some reason.
For me. It depends. Either Deaf or hearing adopter interests to adopt my deaf foster. I must receive application to review and contact the references plus vet references to check and do request for home visits.
I m getting tired of hearing to some deaf people ask for free. I ask them Do you afford if the dog is sick or hurt??
Like me. Hearing rescuers are lucky to have teamwork together if foster dog has no luck to find a home then other rescuer steps in to take the dog for adoption etc. when I ask for a help, normally they did helped but mostly passed me. So I just do my own.
Sometimes adopters look the sign of a dog is DEAF which they think this deaf dog has no life or hope is not true. They can communicate with hand signs or read body languages. It is best to explain positive ways you know.
Who adopted my deaf dogs are mostly hearings. Few deaf people.
For deaf people, if they want to adopt a deaf dog. I do require to have vp (video phone) to talk with them and get applications and home visits. Some can’t pay full adoption fees but sometimes I reduce the adoptions as long if it’s great homes.
Like one deaf friend has two deaf dogs however I told her to get a fence yard. Now other rescuer told me that she contacted her that she interests to take third deaf dog but she must to have a fence yard. She has no money to get the fence and contacted me recently that she needs some help with donations for fencing for her deaf dogs to play due she has no jobs.
Speaking of pending trial adoption, I tend to let my deaf dog foster to new home to see if things work out in new home or with other dogs etc. if not work out, the deaf dog must go back to me til its finds another home.
Hope my answers meet to your questions. If you have more questions to ask, feel free to tip me. Ok?”
Fostering Saves Lives
Another thing to consider is fostering for local shelters and rescues. Ask the shelter or your local rescue how you can become a “foster family”. What a foster family does is take in deaf and hearing dogs for a short period of time until the dog or puppy is ready for adoption or adopted. This way you can teach the puppy manners, potty training, crate training, how to play nice, and socialize the dog. By fostering a shelter dog you help make the hearing or deaf dog more adoptable. Issues can be addressed early before the dog is available for adoption and it is much easier to evaluate a dog in a home environment rather then a stressful shelter environment. This also helps you decide if you are cut out for the work and time it takes for a new dog. You work directly with the shelter/rescue and also get to know the shelter staff. If you foster deaf dogs or puppies, you and your family get to try the dog out for a short period of time before you make your final decision on adoption. Fostering a deaf dog is a good way to see if the dog is a good match for your family. Any way you look at fostering a shelter dog it is a win win for the dog and your family.
Utilize Facebook and “Like” Your Local Shelter Facebook Pages
Another smart thing you can do is go to all your local shelter and rescue Facebook pages. The reason you do this is because when a deaf dog comes into the shelter they will put a photo of the dog up (mostly white dogs) up on their local Facebook pages and they also provide a date when the dog’s “stray hold” is up. A stray hold date is how many days the dog is on hold at the shelter to give the dog’s owner an opportunity to come in and claim the dog. After the date has passed the dog will either be available for adoption (after they do a behavior test to see if the dog is adoptable) or the dog will be euthanzied. If the dog is an “owner surrender” they can immediately put the dog to sleep (especially if it is a deaf dog or puppy) so it is CRUCIAL you have your letter in their system and you are checking back often to remind them there is someone looking to adopt a deaf puppy/dog.
I think if you follow the steps I have listed above you will get to meet several deaf dogs available in your local area. I also think if a majority of the folks looking to adopt a deaf dog, write a letter of intent to the shelters you are also bringing awareness to the local shelters that there are people looking to adopt a deaf dog. By bringing awareness for people looking specifically for a deaf dog, the next time a deaf dog or puppy comes into the shelter they won’t automatically assume the dog is not adoptable. Maybe they will contact you directly or at the very least contact a rescue. Maybe by bringing awareness to the shelter staff they will reach out to us here at Deaf Dogs Rock to list one of their deaf dogs up for adoption.
If you I can help you get the deaf dog you have been dreaming of adopting and you can help Deaf Dogs Rock bring awareness to local shelters in your area, together we can save ONE DEAF DOG AT A TIME!
I wish you all the best of luck in your journey to find your new deaf dog.
Here is also a list of Rescue Warriors who may have deaf dogs available for adoption who we have had the pleasure to work with in the past.
Green Dogs Unleashed in Troy, VA
Speak for The Unspoken Rescue in Grove City, Ohio
Angels of Assisi Rescue in Roanoke, VA
Poet’s Vision Aussie Rescue in Perth Ontario, Canada
Amazing Aussies – Lethal White Rescue of Arizona – Mesa Arizona
Deaf Paws Haven in Kennesaw, GA
All Paws Rescue in OFallon, MO
Angel Dog Foundation Deaf Dog Ranch – Southern CA
iRescue – Killeen TX
Red Hook Dog Rescue – Harriet Zucker
Austin Boxer Rescue – Austin Texas
Northern Plains Boxer Rescue – Serving So. Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota and Minnesota
Minnesota Boxer Rescue – Woodbury, MN
Southwest Virginia Dalmatian Rescue – Roanoke, VA
If you are looking for a deaf white boxer be sure to check with the Boxer Rescues in your area because they have deaf boxers available for adoption often.
When I look at my deaf dog Nitro and see the sparkle in his eyes, I feel blessed to know it was a local shelter director named Rebecca who picked up the phone to let me know he needed a home. I truly believe with little extra effort on your part you to will find your new deaf dog.
Happy searching!
~ Christina Lee – Deaf Dogs Rock
