It’s tough to understand what it’s like to be deaf unless you actually are deaf. Fortunately, an adorable black lab mix doesn’t have to worry about experiencing this condition on his own thanks to a kind man from Maine. When Nick Abbott, who is also deaf, read an urgent plea on Facebook, he reached out to the shelter to become the proud father of the 6-week-old pup, but, he didn’t just give him a new home. He also gave him a special gift when he taught the pooch sign language.A 6-week-old black lab mix named Emerson was either born deaf, or he lost his hearing after experiencing seizures. On top of that, he also developed an infection called canine parvovirus.
Lindsay Powers works for NFR Maine, a dog and cat rescue that saves lives from the high-kill shelters in Northwest Florida. “Once we got him home from the vet’s office from Florida, we realized he had hearing difficulties,” Powers shared with Good Morning America.
Emerson didn’t exactly have a great start to life, but thankfully, he got the perfect Hollywood ending. Powers wasn’t entirely sure if he lost his hearing later on or if he had been born deaf but she knew she wanted to find him a forever home.
Maybe he wasn’t adopted because he was deaf, but Powers didn’t want people getting the wrong idea. Emerson might have been deaf, but he still had tons of love to give. He just needed someone to give him a chance.
She pleaded with Facebook users to share the post so that Emerson would have a shot of finding a new owner. Then, out of the blue, NFR Maine received an application from Abbott, and it was almost too good to be true.
When he read that Emerson was deaf too, he decided to check him out to see what he was all about. He had no idea that he would end up becoming a doggy dad to one of the most adorable creatures in the shelter.
‘I’m deaf also and I feel like we’d have a good connection,'” Powers recalled Abbott saying. She didn’t waste any time and processed his application that same day. Once Abbott and Emerson met, it was obvious this was meant to be.
Richelle stated that her son’s relationship with the puppy was amazing. “Whenever they’re together, Emerson is always finding a way to lean on Nick,” she added. But Abbott had to figure out how to communicate with the deaf pup.
Abbott intended to teach Emerson commands like how to sit, lay down and come. “If Nick reaches up and shakes his ear lobe, Emerson will bark — it’s so cute,” Richelle shared. Emerson learned sign language like the boss that he was, and Abbott was very pleased.
Emerson’s life had been full of struggles at the beginning which is something Abbott could certainly relate to. But now the two of them had found each other and it was evident that fate had brought them together.
