Zephyran Australian Cattle Dog, was offered a second chance after being brought back to the shelter by his adopters because he did not “obey” them. Another family fell under his spell and was determined not to make him experience another disappointment.
When signing the documents for his adoption in March 2020, his new owners saw the words “ brought back! “. Reluctant at first to answer the latter who asked what this meant, an employee of the reception structure ended up explaining to them that he was not listening to his teachers. He didn't follow any instructions and didn't even react when his name was called.
@the_official_zephyr.solo / TikTok
100% deaf
“ When my husband and I asked for an explanation, we quickly hid the notesays the adopter of the dog in the caption of a video shared on TikTokk and relayed by PetHelpful. But it was too late: we had already seen her. We asked the question again to find out why he was brought back. »
After getting the answer, “ my husband and I exchanged a brief glanceshe continues. But we decided to keep our commitment and agreed to take Zephyr home anyway. In fact, the note we saw made us curious. »
Over the next few days, they began to think that the dog might be deaf. When his mistress called his name while she was right behind him, he didn't turn around. “ He just kept running straight ahead, peeking into every room “, she said.
She and her partner took Zephyr to the vet to see for sure. The examination confirmed their doubts; the canine is 100% deaf.
“He is by far the most “listening” dog I have ever had in my life”
“ At that moment, I was overcome by a whirlwind of emotions.confides his human. Sadness for Zephyr, anger at the shelter and at the other family who had called him a “bad dog” simply because he “wasn't listening”, when in reality he couldn't physically hear any of their verbal commands. »
Armed with this information, the couple began teaching him to obey hand signals. Very quickly, communication between Zephyr and his family got better, and his attitude totally changed.
“ 6 years later, Zephyr knows more than 30 signs in ASL (American Sign Language). He reads lips, facial expressions and body language. He is by far the most “listening” dog I have ever had in my life. He follows routines and is always attentive », assures his adopter.
@the_official_zephyr.solo On 3/19/20 just as we were getting ready to sign Zephyr's rescue paperwork we noticed a handwritten note on a document that was sticking out of his folder. It said, “RETURNED!” When my husband and I asked about the note, it was quickly tucked away. But it was too late. We had already seen it. We asked again as to why he was returned. The woman at the rescue said a family had adopted him but brought him back to the rescue claiming he was a bad listener. He wouldn't follow any directions or even respond to his name. The family was frustrated with Zephyr and had no longer wanted him. My husband and I gave each other a quick look but decided to keep our word and we agreed to still take Zephyr home. In fact the note we saw made us curious. Within 48 hours of having zephyr home, we knew something was different. We knew ZEPHYR was different. He would be caught searching for me in the house and when I called his name from directly behind him, he wouldn't turn around. He'd just keep running straight ahead peeking into each room. When a motorcycle drove by, its roar had me jump but Zephyr didn't even glance in the direction of the bike. We began to sense he was hearing impaired but to what extent. One week later, Zephyr had his first appointment with the rescue's vet. We told them what we had observed over the course of the week and that we were sure he was hearing impaired. The vet took Zephyr from us and performed his first exam. A few minutes later, we were told that Zephyr is completely deaf. In fact there weren't any pitches he was able to hear. It was at this moment that I had a rollercoaster of emotions take over. Sadness for Zephyr, anger at the rescue and other family for labeling him a bad dog because he was a bad listener when in fact he physically couldn't hear any of their verbal commands! Then it changed to gratefulness, protectiveness and in love. I was grateful the family gave him up because now Zephyr was safe with me and my husband. I felt protective because how dare anyone treat him poorly, especially because of his handicap and I would never allow that to happen again and finally in love. I was going to love and teach this dog what it means to be loved, understood and safe. We immediately started to teach Zephyr sign language and within days he started to show signs of the incredible dog he was about to become. Fast forward 6 years later and Zephyr knows over 30 ASL signs. He reads lips, facial expressions and body language. He is by far the “best listening” dog I have ever had in my lifetime. He follows routines and never misses a beat. Zephyr's 1 year journey to get to us makes me sad BUT I also know his journey is what led him to the family that has given him all the love, patience, understanding and safety he could have ever wanted. ?? #fyp #rescuedog #cattledog #trendingaudio #trendingsong
? Like a Prayer (Choir Version From “Deadpool & Wolverine”) – I'll Take You There Choir
Woopets advice: how to react if you suspect that a dog is not hearing correctly?
A dog who “doesn’t obey” or react to his name is not necessarily stubborn. Partial or total deafness can go unnoticed, especially in puppies or newly adopted dogs, as the story of Zephyr. Here are the good reflexes to adopt:
- Consult a veterinarian quickly: only a specialized examination can confirm deafness.
- Watch for signs at home: lack of reaction to loud noises, deep sleep that is difficult to interrupt, or a dog that never turns around when called.
- Adapt communication: use simple and constant visual signals (hand gestures), always associated with a positive reward.
- Secure the environment: favor enclosed spaces or on a lanyard, because a deaf dog does not perceive sound dangers (cars, other animals, etc.).
- Strengthen the bond differently: eye contact, routines and consistency of gestures become essential to establish a lasting relationship of trust.