Deaf Man And His Deaf Dog Form A Precious Bond – The Pup Can Speak Sign Language!
Emerson, a black Labrador puppy, began life with a rough start. Abandoned along the roadside with his siblings, they were far too young to survive on their own. After being rescued and taken to a shelter, Emerson still faced serious challenges. He battled life-threatening health problems, including seizures and a severe infection that nearly cost him his life.
Even after overcoming those hurdles, Emerson had to confront another obstacle—he was completely deaf. Many potential adopters were unsure how to care for a dog with special needs and hesitated. Just when it seemed like a forever home might never come, hope arrived in the form of someone who truly understood Emerson's unique situation…
Abandoned On The Roadside
Meet Emerson, a loving little puppy who was just six weeks old when he and his siblings were abandoned by the roadside in northwestern Florida. Fortunately, a kind stranger noticed the vulnerable pups and quickly brought them to safety at North Florida Rescue (NFR).
Known for rescuing animals from high-risk shelters and offering them new beginnings, NFR relies on a devoted team of volunteers to provide the care and foster homes these animals need to recover. Emerson's path to finding a permanent family, however, would take extra patience and a whole lot of heart.
A "Special Needs" Puppy
After their rescue, Emerson and his siblings were moved to NFR's Maine branch. Though the eight-week-old black Lab puppies were anticipated to flourish in their new surroundings, Emerson encountered tougher obstacles.
Being smaller and more delicate than his littermates, along with a leg deformity that classified him as a "special needs" pup, made it much harder for him to find a forever home.
Emerson Began Having Seizures
Emerson's leg condition quickly became a secondary concern when more serious health issues surfaced. The little pup began having frequent seizures, alarming everyone caring for him. "We have him at the emergency vet and are doing everything possible to help. He’s currently receiving fluids, and a series of tests will be conducted," NFR Maine shared on Facebook.
By then, Emerson’s emergency vet bills had already hit $850—and the costs kept rising.
Emerson Was Left Behind
Emerson's seizures puzzled everyone, and concern deepened when he stopped eating and drinking. While the seizures lessened the next day, he still required hospital care for IV fluids and close monitoring.
As his siblings found loving homes, Emerson remained at the shelter. His ongoing health struggles made it difficult to secure a family, casting uncertainty over his future like never before.
He Contracted A Fatal Virus
Seizures weren't the only hurdle Emerson had to overcome. Just as those started to improve, the young pup was diagnosed with Parvo.
Canine Parvovirus is a highly contagious disease transmitted through contact with infected animals or contaminated surroundings. It targets the digestive system and can be deadly within days if not treated quickly. Puppies under four months old—especially those not fully vaccinated—are particularly at risk. Emerson was still less than ten weeks old when he caught the virus.
The Rescue Didn't Think He'd Survive
While all of Emerson's siblings were adopted right after arriving at NFR Maine, he was "struggling to survive." In fact, the volunteers at NFR Maine were already preparing for the worst possible scenario.
"With all that this poor boy has been [through] already in his short life, his body is already weak and we have to brace ourselves that he may not make it. That is a cold reality of rescue, we lose some," they wrote.
He Recovered, But There Was Still Something Wrong
The volunteers at NFR Maine did everything they could to give Emerson a fair, fighting chance at a good life. Soon, by some miracle, Emerson began healing from his seizures and his Parvo diagnosis.
But despite the fact that Emerson was healing, he wasn't completely out of the woods. Perhaps it wasn't his myriad of health problems that held Emerson back from getting adopted. There was something else that made him a "special needs" puppy.
He Appeared On TV So Someone Would Want Him
As he was healing, NFR Maine made a strong effort to find Emerson his new forever home. The volunteers even appeared on local television to state his case and what they said pulled at many viewers' heartstrings.
"Emerson had a pretty rough start to life... [He] was having seizures, we weren't sure why. He was hospitalized and developed Parvo. And they do believe he is deaf and maybe visually impaired," volunteers shared on the TV 5 Morning Show in Maine.
Emerson Had No Hearing, But A Lot Of Heart
So not only did this little guy suffer from a leg deformity, seizures, and Parvo within ten weeks of his life, he was also deaf (and possibly blind) for a majority of that time. That didn't keep Emerson from being a happy dog though.
"Once we got him from the vet's office from Florida, we realized he had hearing difficulties. He doesn't let it bother him at all though, he's a typical puppy," volunteer Lindsay Powers told Good Morning America.
Emerson Had Fun Despite His Health
Veterinarians and volunteers weren't sure how Emerson came to be deaf either. "It is unknown if I was born deaf or if it was from the seizures," Powers shared on Facebook on behalf of Emerson.
"What IS known is that a lack of being able to hear doesn't keep me down!" Emerson likely wasn't blind and despite being unable to hear, he enjoyed going on shopping trips, car rides, and playing with the kids in his foster family.
They Thought People Didn't Want Him
Despite Emerson's "happy-go-lucky" nature, NFR Maine couldn't find any takers when it came to his adoption. With all of his siblings gone, they believed it was Emerson's disclaimers that were holding him back.
Emerson was 12 weeks old and still looking for his forever home. "My Foster mom thinks that's because people see that I'm deaf, and that makes people nervous but she wants everyone to know that being deaf is the LEAST of my worries!" Powers wrote on Facebook.
His Foster Mom Posted A Public Plea
While fostering Emerson, NFR volunteer Lindsay Powers simply couldn't understand why this little guy had a hard time finding someone to adopt him. She even shared his story and some adorable photos of him on Facebook.
"'My foster mom says she pictures me with someone that loves to be outside doing things like camping and going on adventures! I do really well on a leash and respond to vibrations if you need to get my attention," she wrote.
He Was Becoming A Local Celebrity
Soon, many of the locals in Maine gained wind of Emerson's story. "We had so many people ask about him! (He was getting to be a one name celebrity around these parts!)," NFR Maine shared on their Facebook page.
But despite the fact that many people knew Emerson was still looking for someone to adopt him, NFR Maine still had trouble finding his perfect forever home. After all, Emerson was unlike most dogs.
Someone With A Special Connection
Finally, Emerson's saving grace came in the form of Nick Abbott. Some might say it was destiny that Abbott expressed interest in Emerson. He contacted NFR Maine about Emerson, telling them that he might understand Emerson better than other potential new owners.
"Right off the bat, he said, 'I'm deaf also and I feel like we'd have a good connection,'" Powers told Good Morning America. Thinking that she found the one, Powers processed Abbott's adoption application within a day.
Could It Be A Perfect Match?
Nick Abbott heard about Emerson after seeing a post on his Facebook feed. "I was born deaf. I said- Oh, he's deaf too... Maybe I can go check him out to see what he's all about," Abbott told CBS-affiliate WABI-TV.
There couldn't have been a more perfect match for Emerson. Not only was someone willing and ready to take care of the puppy, but they would also share a special bond between the two of them.
Emerson 'Picked' His New Owner
A couple of days later, Abbott was on his way to meet Emerson for the first time. When Abbott first arrived at Emerson's foster home, it was as if the stars had aligned right then and there.
"He came straight to me at the door and sat right away at my feet and stayed there. So you can tell he kind of picked me," Abbott said with a smile. Emerson had finally found the perfect new owner.
Emerson Still Had A Lot To Learn
The fact that Emerson walked right up to Abbott the moment he saw him was a sure sign that the two of them were meant to be in each other's lives. "I knew right then and there that we would get along and understand each other pretty good," Abbott told WABI-TV.
Now that Emerson had found the perfect forever home with Abbott, he lives as one of the happiest puppies in Maine. But there was still a learning curve for this pup.
Learning His Tricks With Sign Language
Since the two have found each other, Abbott has begun teaching Emerson sign language. Just because he has a disability, doesn't mean that his life would be different than other puppies. After all, he was at the prime age to learn some basic commands and neat tricks.
Though Abbott says that Emerson can respond to certain tones and pitches, sign language allows him to better communicate with his new dog.
So Far He Can Sit And Lie Down
So far, Emerson can sit and lie down on command. Of course, he does this using the visual cues of sign language. To tell Emerson to sit, Abbott signs the letter 's' in sign language. It was one trick that Emerson had down to a tee.
For "lie down," Abbott sweeps his hand across in a straight line. Emerson performed the command effortlessly for the first time when WABI-TV came to interview Abbott.
It Was Meant To Be
After all that he had gone through in the first three months of his life, Emerson finally got the fairy-tale ending he deserved. His disability may have held him back before but it brought him closer to just the right person. Emerson now embarks on his happy new life with his best friend Nick Abbott.
"The bond that we have is awesome. We understand each other very well. I'd like to think it was meant to be. He's special," Abbott said.
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