I haven’t updated this post since Dozer found his new forever home in Washington State. Here is the story of how a wonderful group of American Sign Language Students helped Deaf Dogs Rock and Dozer find his forever home.

It all started on May 4, 2013 when I received the most amazing gift and surprise.  A wonderful group of American Sign Language (ASL) students from a private school in Hartford CT, sent Deaf Dogs Rock a donation for $ 400.00! The kids in this particular ASL Class go to the Watkinson School in Hartford, CT.  For National Deaf Awareness week their ASL class worked very hard selling cool T-shirts designed by students to raise money for a cause of their choice. They decided to donate their proceeds to Deaf Dogs Rock! That was my first surprise.

The timing could not have been better because I was hoping to help a deaf dog at the Franklin County Humane Society. His name was Dozer and he needed surgery on his injured tail because every time he got excited and wagged his tail (it would hit the floor) and it kept breaking open and getting infected. I knew without his tail being fixed, it would be a long shot getting him adopted into a good home. Because of the ASL classes generosity, Dozer received his much needed surgery and he was finally healthy again so he was made available for adoption.

Photo of Christina Lee of Deaf Dogs Rock working with Dozer 3 days before his surgery.

I sent the ASL teacher at Watkinson School Stacy Kluczwski an email to ask her for more information on the students, their class project, and their school address so I could send them a thank you card. My second big surprise came when Stacy their ASL Teacher sent me the video shown below that the kids just completed for Deaf Dogs Rock.

When I watched this beautiful video, I sat at my desk here at Deaf Dogs Rock and cried happy tears. I loved experiencing their kindness, hard work, dedication, and their understanding of our goal to save one deaf dog at a time. I will always cherish this video and the sentiments expressed by a group of very special young people and their wonderful teacher.

 

The kids in the ASL class ended the video with a question asking “How do people teach ASL or sign language to their deaf dogs?” I was thinking I sure wished Nitro and I lived closer to them. If we lived closer, I would take Nitro in to meet the entire class and show them in person how deaf dog owners train and communicate with their dogs. As luck would have it when I shared the video on our Deaf Dogs Rock FB page, Trisha Malfitano commented under our video post that she lived near the school and would be happy to stop by and demonstrate how she signs to Kiefer her deaf dog.

This was fantastic news because Trisha has a celebrity deaf dog named Kiefer. Trisha mentioned they could visit the school and show the kids how she signs to Kiefer. Trisha and Kiefer live very close to Hartford CT where the school is located so I was very excited and really felt like this visit was meant to be.

Trisha and Kiefer visit schools all the time to teach kids about animals with “special abilities”.  I sent Trisha the teacher’s contact info. and sent Ms. Kluczwski Trisha’s contact information so they could both set up a special meeting with the kids.

On May 13, 2013,Trisha and her deaf dog Kiefer will be going to meet the ASL class who helped Deaf Dogs Rock. Trisha is the author of two books My Dog Kiefer and Kiefer and Friends. Can you imagine how exciting the kids will be to meet Kiefer?

Update 5-23-2013: Here are a few photos from our deaf dog friend Kiefer when he and Trisha went to see the ASL students at the Watkinson School on May 13, 2013.

Kiefer showing them love.

Photo by Trisha: Such a great group photo of this wonderful American Sign Language Class!

According to my deaf dogs Nitro, Bud, and my husband Chris and I, the kids at the Watkinson School in Hartford CT, totally Rock! To the students who sent us this wonderful video. Thank you so much for your encouragement and support. You will never know how much this means to us. Thank you so much to Trisha and Kiefer for taking the time to go visit the kids and bring education and awareness to young people in her community.

Christina, Chris, Nitro and Bud – Deaf Dogs Rock

After Kiefer’s Visit To The Watkinson School Dozer Got Another Surprise In The Mail

Updated: 5-28-2013: The kids at the Watkinson School also sent Dozer a cool bandana with his name on it (and it spelled out Dozer’s name in ASL). They also sent a toy and a really cool Peace T-Shirt. After I opened their special package for Dozer, I called Dozer’s foster mom Kim Lang and asked her to swing by the farm. As luck would have it she happened to be in town so she brought Dozer over for a play day with Bud. They had a blast! He is the coolest dog ever! Here are a few photos from Dozer’s visit. Dozer was adopted and flew all the way from Washington DC to Washington State to join The Murphy Family.

Dozer in his new ASL Bandana sent by the kids of the Watkinson School.

Deaf dog Dozer and my deaf dog Bud playing in our back yard when Dozer’s foster mom came to the farm for a visit.

Dozer Flies to His New Home In Washington State! 

Mr and Mrs. Murray adopted deaf dog Dozer and with the help of Kim and David Lang they flew Dozer on Alaska airlines from Washington, DC to Washington State. Dozer is now the official “taste tester” and Quality Control Manager for 4 Legz All Natural Dog Treats. Yes that’s right, the Murray’s own a Natural Dog Treat company. Did Dozer win the “Dog Lottery” or what?

Check out Dozer’s first Camping Trip with his new family! He such a STAR!