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Deaf Dog Saved by Sign-Language
Deaf dog gets second chance with sign language lessons from owner.

For Snowy, the Staffie-cross, life started badly. Completely deaf, mistreated by her old owners, who mistook her deafness for naughtiness, she then ended up in a rescue home. But luckily for her, her saving grace was just at hand.

Lynne Chapman, 62, from Sale, Greater Manchester visited the Society for Abandoned Animals and was struck by the sight of Snowy. “The poor thing looked such a pathetic mess,” Lynne said. “I felt so sorry for her being deaf. I knew I wanted her as soon as I saw her.”

Determined that Snowy would have a happy life, Lynne adopted her as soon as possible and set about teaching her sign language. Lynne explains: “If people who are hard of hearing have to communicate by sign language, then there is no reason why a dog can't learn it too.”

Lynne first realised her challenge when Snowy, still unused to living with her new owner, ran away after being scared by some school children.

Lynne said: “I was chasing her and shouting at her to come back, and then I thought, 'why am I shouting at her? She can't hear me!'” It was then that Lynne realised she needed to find an alternative way to communicate with her pet, and sign language was the obvious choice.

She continued: “So I stopped running and so did she. She turned round and I started signalling her to come back, and she responded straight away.”

Since then, Lynne has used signs to communicate with Snowy. She knows signs for 'come here', 'on my lap', 'home', 'no' and 'food.'

Julie Threlfall, who works at the charity from which Snowy was adopted, said that deaf dogs can live “perfectly normal doggie lives with the help of sign. You do need a little extra patience with deaf animals but if you put I that little bit of time, like Lynne has with Snowy, it can make for a real happy ending.”

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."