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When I
lost Shilo, my first deaf Dalmatian, in September 2003 I wasn't sure if
I would get another dog, the loss I felt was so great.
Shilo was a terrific dog. Her
deafness turned out to be more of an endearing trait than a disability,
so I decided that if I was to get another dog, I wanted a deaf Dalmatian
for sure! Several
months passed and I discovered Dalmatian Rescue of Colorado.
Thank goodness! They
had a little two-year-old deaf girl named Peppy who needed a home.
I took one look and had "that feeling" so I submitted
an adoption application online. Soon
after that I got an email from Beth saying she also had a deaf male that
needed a home urgently, so I agreed to look at him also.
I hadn't considered a second dog, but one look at Lucky's
gorgeous markings and his winning personality and I knew I had to have
him too. This has turned out to be a great arrangement because the two of them keep each other company while I am away at work. They have brought a ton of happiness into this home! It was a little rough at first, but the two of them became fast friends and now love to run and chase each other in the yard. They are amazingly well behaved indoors, much better than I had expected. Lucky (now called "Luke") likes to stretch out on the bed while Peppy (a.k.a. Yapper Doo) curls up into a Dalmatian soccer ball. |
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I also want to mention that the foster families trained these dogs very well. Peppy knows over a dozen hand signs and this has helped Lucky to learn them as well just from watching her. Peppy learns in turn from Lucky's gentle behavior and good leash manners. Peppy has the sweetest habit of sleeping with her head on my foot if I am at the computer so she can tell if get up to do something. This is just one of the many clever things that deaf dogs may do to overcome their deafness. It is really quite amusing. |
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As I mentioned, we've had a few rough spots but every time I needed help Dalmatian Rescue of Colorado was there with a quick answer. And I am totally impressed with the quality of the dogs that I adopted. These are sweet, loving, good-natured animals that mostly just needed to find a good secure home so that they could shine to their full potential. It's really beautiful to see them develop and blossom. They are SO eager to please. They have adjusted to one another and to me and I can't imagine how I ever got along without them. It feels like we've been together since puppy-hood, except we don't have any puppy pictures. Of course my heart still misses Shilo, but in the end you realize that these pups are ultimately just as special and just as deserving of your full heart as the ones that you lost. The sadness remains, but it is tempered with the living joy of smiling eyes and faces and excited barks at the ends of leashes. Though you may visit the memory of the past every single day, you learn to move on and I could not have done it without these dogs! Best Regards, David, Peppy and Lucky |
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