Deaf Dog Hope "Asks to be Petted"

Hope with her Doggles on.
© Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2014

December 29, 2013 was the date I adopted Hope, an approximately eleven month old Border Collie/Husky mix born deaf and surrendered as an older puppy because of her deafness. Although, I found out later that the person who surrendered her used the excuse that this puppy was "cat aggressive."

When I asked to see Hope, at the time named Sweetie, in the Humane Society's lobby to get away from all the barking dogs and to give her lovings, I asked how she was around cats. I was told they didn't know, later told that until they saw her being aggressive they were not going to put that label on her. They knew that when an animal comes in with a disability like deafness, the owner feels guilty for not wanting it for that reason and will use another excuse to give up the animal to appease their conscious.

Hope, Pippin, and Spritzen playing.
© Photo by Tracey R. Simmons

Here we were standing in the lobby surrounded by large cages filled with kittens and adult cats. I watched Hope's interest in the kittens being greater - not in an aggressive way, than her interest in me as a human wanting to pet and love her. I have photos of her while still at the Humane Society - how scared she was just to be touched and hugged. She has come so far in a positive way.

I could tell the day I first saw Hope at the Humane Society that she had love to give. When all the other dogs were barking and jumping around, as I walked through the dog kennel area, Hope just sat, watching me, her blue eyes meeting mine.  I really believe that she could sense the hurt I was feeling for my black lab - Worf, who was basically in hospice care at home, nearing his last day. There was an unexplainable communication that took place at that moment.

I brought Hope home four days after losing Worf on Christmas day. She has never been aggressive towards my cats or the Chihuahuas. In fact, she is extremely gentle with my older cat, Gracie, the Grey.

Hope is indeed a lover at heart. Just last night, she came up to me, sat and looked me straight in the eyes. She was asking to be petted. When I moved my hand towards her, she quickly lowered her head under my hand, bumping it with her head. As I moved my hand across her head and back, the wiggles and bouncing started, so I stopped. She calmed down, sitting beside my legs, waiting. Then, I gently started rubbing her side, and she leaned into me more. She was in heaven.

Pippin wanting Hope to play tug with her.
© Photo by Tracey R. Simmons