Possum needs a foster home!
Possum is an adorable pup who was recently transferred to NLOL Chicago from Animal Care and Control. When our intake directors laid eyes on this gorgeous egghead gal, we knew she had to be part of our dog family! After our standard careful temperament testing and evaluation, we decided she was a winner and quickly whisked her away.
During our initial meeting with Possum it was not obvious that she had any hearing problems... but once we were able to observe her more closely, it became very apparent that she is, in fact, deaf. This is not our first encounter with deaf dogs, though - just like NLOL alum Sprout, Possum will need a dedicated person or family to help her adjust to life without sound. We think that Possum's previous family may not have known that she was deaf, because she seems to have been living literally in her own world without any sort of guidance or love.
As stated above, Possum is not used to human affection -- but she sure does love it! We have been working with her to teach her proper dog manners. Possum probably never was worked with or given a chance to show her true smart self! Poor gal. Since NLOL has been working with her, she has learned a few sign commands, is walking well on leash and learning how to be calm when she is being petted. She's mastered the sitting command and loves getting the thumbs-up and a treat when she knows she's done something right!
We've also discovered Possum loves other dogs and gets incredibly excited and playful when in the presence of one. She has not met kitty cats yet, so we're unsure if she is cat friendly. We would recommend at this stage that Possum not be placed with young children due to her strength and excitability.
Possum, like any bull terrier, is full of great energy, but she will need an adopter who will be committed to continued training with
her. Miss Possum is very smart, and given the opportunity, she will blossom into a wonderful companion. Because she is deaf, there will
be many challenges to overcome, but that does not mean she cannot live the same sort of life as a dog who can hear. Sproutie's adoptive mom says, "Working with a deaf dog is an incredibly rewarding experience. The bond between you and the dog as well as the feeling of accomplishment is beyond anything you can imagine!"
Because of Possum's breed and hearing impairment, we would prefer an applicant who has deaf dog experience and/or bully breed experience or is a very dog savvy person. We will not adopt Possum out to a first
time dog owner. Please contact us if you feel that you and Possum may be a match for foster care or a permanent home!
To learn more about deaf dogs please visit:
www.deafdogs.org.
