Deaf Dog Saved by Sign-Language
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.”
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
