When a dog named Ardi developed hearing loss, his family had to give him to a shelter because they were unable to adequately care for him.
Fortunately, the dog quickly found his ideal owner—a sign language instructor who had lost his hearing—and left the shelter, moving into a new home.
Florida resident Andrew Wilson was not intending to bring a puppy home that day.
He merely intended to observe the animals and, potentially, select a dog to keep as a pet. The idea, however, was a touch too successful.
Ardi welcomed me inside his enclosure with open arms. I petted him, and as I was leaving, he approached me and softly barked as if to say, ‘Please pick me.’
Added Andrew. Within a few hours of informing the shelter staff that he was taking Ardi home, the guy formally adopted the polite doggo.
Although taking care of a deaf dog is challenging, Andrew is well-equipped for the job.
He is currently teaching sign language to a new pet that has been renamed Appa, and the dog is making great progress.
‘Appa already knows a few words in sign language and quickly learns new ones,’ Andrew says.
