Nola was just a few months old when she entered Tallahassee Animal Services as Nova, and nobody knew she couldn’t hear. She was a cute white puppy looking for her forever home.
After losing their beloved dog of 13 years, Tina and her family were ready to open their hearts again. Without Tina knowing, her husband Tony and their daughter had already found the perfect puppy. To keep the surprise going, Tony suggested the family donate their old dog supplies to the shelter and “look around” while they were there. When the staff brought Nova out as if she were meeting a potential adopter, Tina smiled and said, “Oh, she’s adorable.”
Tony looked at her and said, “She’s ours.”
“There wasn’t a dry eye in the shelter,” Tina remembers.
They renamed her Nola, their little Seminole girl. A few weeks later, the family noticed something was off. Nola barely responded to her name. Then their famously loud doorbell rang, and she never even looked up. That’s when they realized Nola was deaf.
For many families, a deaf puppy and no clear path to training can become a reason to give up. Thankfully, Animal Shelter Foundation’s Animal Behavior Training program exists. ASF partners with local trainers to provide behavior assessments and training for adopted and foster dogs, so families can work through challenges before they become reasons for surrender.
ASF stepped in right away and helped arrange training sessions with Danielle at Morgan’s Dog Training. Danielle also happens to have a deaf dog of her own, so she knew exactly what Tina’s family was going through and how to help.
The family’s background made the match even more fitting. Tina is fluent in American Sign Language, and the whole family has spent years volunteering with children and adults with special needs. Her family feels like Nola was always meant to find them.
Nola Today
Nola is thriving. She is incredibly smart, eager to learn, and amazes her family every single day. She has graduated from Novice and Intermediate/Advanced Rally, an obedience sport built on connection between dog and handler, and is now working toward Excellent. She has tried Fast CAT and Barn Hunt, and she is working toward her Canine Good Citizen title. The family’s goal is for her to earn multiple AKC titles.
Danielle sees the progress every week. “It has been a pleasure to watch Nola and Tina grow and learn together as a team,” she says. “I think it is a great way to showcase everything deaf dogs are capable of!”
Nola’s favorite boarding facility, Bradfordville Animal Resort Kingdom (BARK), even learned her hand signals so they could communicate with her so her family knows she is surrounded by people who understand her. Nola’s journey hasn’t always been easy, but every challenge has led her exactly where she was meant to be.
“She may be deaf, but she has taught us that love, patience, and communication don’t always need words,” Tina said. “Sometimes, they just need the right signs.”
Why Your Gift Matters
Nola’s story could have ended differently. A deaf dog with unexpected needs is the perfect storm that can lead to a surrendered pet at a crowded kennel. Instead, a little training and a lot of support turned a challenge into a champion.
“The Animal Shelter Foundation has been an incredible blessing throughout our journey. Lauren at ASF has been our guardian angel from the very beginning,” Tina says. “She has guided us through every step of the adoption process, and we still keep her updated on Nola’s adventures. We couldn’t be more grateful for their support.”
Your gift to ASF helps give more dogs and families that same chance, keeping pets in their homes and out of the shelter. The impact goes well beyond one family. Every dog who stays in her home is one less dog returning to an already crowded shelter, and one more kennel open for the next animal in need.
Help the next Nola find her way! Donate today at: animalshelterfoundation.org/help/donate
Need help with a newly adopted dog? ASF’s low-cost Doggie Manners Classes are open to all adoptive families. Sign up here!
