Miss-Delectable
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http://www.presstelegram.com/Stories/0,1413,204~28393~2883122,00.html
We all have our handicaps whether you can see them or not, and learning to love and accept that which is different is one of life's greatest lessons, says Susan C. Becker, author of the book "Living with a Deaf Dog."
Diane Ellis, a volunteer at the Seal Beach Animal Care Center (SBACC), has rendered those qualities throughout her lifetime. She has been teaching Lauren sign language for the past six months, and has just recently decided to adopt her. With beautiful white fur and tan spots, Lauren is a 2-year-old cattle dog mix who has been hearing impaired since birth. As a puppy, she trained at Crossroads school for dogs and was taught the standard hand signals.
Since her stay at SBACC, she now knows the signs for play, OK, let's go, and drop it. Every day, either Diane or another volunteer will greet Lauren hello in sign language and take her out to play in a fenced yard at SBACC, where she can dig holes, play tug of war and chase balls. She is constantly being talked to through hand signals and is given a 15-minute session everyday learning new commands in sign language.
When Diane was asked why she decided to adopt Lauren, she confidently said, "Well, when I went into the shelter, I was drawn to her. I felt that she was given a bad label as an aggressive dog, and I knew she wasn't. I knew all she needed was someone who would be patient and tolerant with her and who would communicate with her in a way that would make her feel normal."
She went on to say: "Deaf dogs or any dog with special needs is just as deserving of a good home just like anyone else, and that their quality of life or what they can give is so beautiful."
Because of the shelter and Diane's patience, Lauren has been given a good life, full of love, caring and comfort. On April 24, the Seal Beach Animal Care Center held a fund-raising event at Cha Cha's in Long Beach. During the event Lauren displayed her special skills and amazed the crowd. According to Diane, this will not be Lauren's last performance.
Diane plans on furthering Lauren's knowledge in sign language so that she can start utilizing her as a therapy dog for deaf children. Diane is hoping the deaf children will be able to enjoy the interaction with a dog that is deaf and that they could possibly be able to teach their pets how to understand sign language.
Diane thinks Lauren will be very helpful because she is a terrific companion who is great with people. One of Lauren's biggest endearments to Diane is that she is so loving and giving. The bond between a dog and its owner is one of life's greatest joys. Diane opening up her life and love to Lauren proves this.
Diane is one of the many who have adopted from the SBACC, and is certainly not the last. For information about adoption, please log on to www.sbacc.org or call (562) 430-4993.
We all have our handicaps whether you can see them or not, and learning to love and accept that which is different is one of life's greatest lessons, says Susan C. Becker, author of the book "Living with a Deaf Dog."
Diane Ellis, a volunteer at the Seal Beach Animal Care Center (SBACC), has rendered those qualities throughout her lifetime. She has been teaching Lauren sign language for the past six months, and has just recently decided to adopt her. With beautiful white fur and tan spots, Lauren is a 2-year-old cattle dog mix who has been hearing impaired since birth. As a puppy, she trained at Crossroads school for dogs and was taught the standard hand signals.
Since her stay at SBACC, she now knows the signs for play, OK, let's go, and drop it. Every day, either Diane or another volunteer will greet Lauren hello in sign language and take her out to play in a fenced yard at SBACC, where she can dig holes, play tug of war and chase balls. She is constantly being talked to through hand signals and is given a 15-minute session everyday learning new commands in sign language.
When Diane was asked why she decided to adopt Lauren, she confidently said, "Well, when I went into the shelter, I was drawn to her. I felt that she was given a bad label as an aggressive dog, and I knew she wasn't. I knew all she needed was someone who would be patient and tolerant with her and who would communicate with her in a way that would make her feel normal."
She went on to say: "Deaf dogs or any dog with special needs is just as deserving of a good home just like anyone else, and that their quality of life or what they can give is so beautiful."
Because of the shelter and Diane's patience, Lauren has been given a good life, full of love, caring and comfort. On April 24, the Seal Beach Animal Care Center held a fund-raising event at Cha Cha's in Long Beach. During the event Lauren displayed her special skills and amazed the crowd. According to Diane, this will not be Lauren's last performance.
Diane plans on furthering Lauren's knowledge in sign language so that she can start utilizing her as a therapy dog for deaf children. Diane is hoping the deaf children will be able to enjoy the interaction with a dog that is deaf and that they could possibly be able to teach their pets how to understand sign language.
Diane thinks Lauren will be very helpful because she is a terrific companion who is great with people. One of Lauren's biggest endearments to Diane is that she is so loving and giving. The bond between a dog and its owner is one of life's greatest joys. Diane opening up her life and love to Lauren proves this.
Diane is one of the many who have adopted from the SBACC, and is certainly not the last. For information about adoption, please log on to www.sbacc.org or call (562) 430-4993.
