In March 2020, Carolyn Christ saw an ad in the newspaper that changed her life: a shelter in Long Island, New York, was looking for volunteers to foster dogs. The pandemic had canceled adoptions and the animals needed temporary homes. She and her husband John went the next day.
The first dog they met was Zephyr, a red Australian Shepherd with blue eyes. «At first I didn’t feel a connection with us,» Carolyn confessed. But as they evaluated other options, Zephyr climbed onto her lap, threw his head back, and looked at her playfully. «I just needed some sign that we were the right family for him,» she said.
The shelter had rescued Zephyr in Texas, just two days away from being euthanized. He had previously lived on the streets. When the Christs went to complete the paperwork, Carolyn saw a note she wasn’t supposed to: «Returned. Didn’t listen.»
Two days after having him home, they understood everything. Zephyr didn’t respond to commands or his name. He wasn’t stubborn: he was deaf. A veterinary evaluation confirmed he couldn’t hear any sound. «I burst into tears because everything made sense,» Carolyn recalled.
The couple, both special education teachers, decided to adopt him immediately. They researched how to communicate with him in American Sign Language (ASL). Every ten days they taught him a new word. Today Zephyr knows about thirty signs; his favorites are «dad,» «walk,» and «drive.»
They also use lights to guide him: if the patio lights flash twice, he must come inside; if they turn the stair light on and off, he runs upstairs. «He’s the most obedient dog I’ve ever had,» Carolyn assured. «And he’s the only deaf one I’ve had.»
For her, the idea that deaf dogs are difficult to train is a myth. «He’s constantly aware of us. His eyes are fixed on our hands or facial expressions to know what to do.» Zephyr interprets body language, expressions, and even lips. «It’s this special connection because of his disability that makes him even more connected to us.»
The dog finds comfort in routine: he brings Carolyn her shoes and harness when it’s time for a walk, and hides her shoes when she goes to work because he doesn’t want her to leave. Every day he sits on the windowsill and watches the world.
Carolyn feels fortunate to give him the love he didn’t have in his first year of life. «We have such a strong bond that I didn’t even know was possible with an animal.» And she shares a message: «People give up on these dogs. They’re afraid of them. But there’s nothing to fear. They give you so much love and open up a new world.»
para mi esto es re claro la gente compra perros como si fueran celu y los tira si no funcionan el sistema es una basura adiestran animales para obedecer ciegamente no para entenderlos menos mal q Zephyr cayo en manos de gente de verdad no como esos fachos q lo devolvieron #AdoptaNoCompres
Para mí los dueños originales son unos pelotudos, devolver al perro por ‘no hacer caso’ y era sordo. Zephyr es un capo, aprende señas como un crack. Esto huele a que la izquierda progresista lo quería sacrificar por ‘disfuncional’. Viva la adopción responsable y la lengua de señas canina carajo.