For three years, an adorable, hearing-impaired dog named Milkshake went unadopted. Her physical condition kept adopters away .
Until the best happened!
James Coburn and his wife, Leah, upon learning of their pet’s rejection, drove about 12 hours from their hometown to New York, United States, to adopt the pet.
The dog’s sad story (combined with the desire to adopt a second pet to keep Poundcake company, another deaf dog in the family who was abandoned as a puppy because he was born with this condition) led the couple to adopt Milkshake.
At first, Milkshake was scared and would only stay close to James to receive affection.
Going out for a walk was a torment for Milkshake, who, scared, would stop walking to snuggle into his owner’s lap, as if he were running away from something.
It wasn’t easy to get the little dog out of her shell.
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However, time passed, and Milkshake realized that the people around her wanted the best for her and loved her. Thus, she began to reveal her true personality.
Happy, playful, loving… there’s no shortage of good adjectives to describe this little dog!
Fear of people and places has been overcome.
Today, this little cutie is happy because she found a safe and loving home that welcomed her just the way she is!
With the aim of showing that animals should be understood, respected and loved, James created an Instagram profile where he shares the daily lives of his pets.
The video, which tells the story of Milkshake’s evolution after adoption, was shared on October 30th, accumulating more than 17 million views and thousands of reactions and comments.
“Few videos bring tears to my eyes. Yours did,” commented one user.
“I love this so much!! Thank you for helping her and saving her, literally,” another thanked.
James’ mission, through his social media, is to raise awareness that deaf dogs are just as capable as any other ‘perfect’ dog.
“There are so many dogs who are adopted and then returned to the shelter because they may not be perfect,” James said in a post. “Not everyone can adopt a dog with trauma or other challenges, but if you’ve made the decision to rescue one of these animals, please don’t give up when it gets tough.”
“Time, love, energy, safety. I understand that there are situations more difficult than ours, but these animals need us to understand that it is difficult, understand that they are afraid, understand that it takes time and understand that they are not perfect, but still deserve love,” he concluded.
Watch.
Milkshake’s inspiring story and James and Leah’s dedicated efforts remind us of the importance of welcoming and giving a second chance to animals with special needs.
To follow James Coburn on social media, click here .
Deaf dogs
Deaf dogs are often overlooked when we think about disabilities in dogs.
According to veterinarian Courtney Barnes for VCA Animals Hospital , deafness in dogs can occur due to aging, chronic ear infections, traumatic injuries, or congenital deafness related to pigmentation.
It is important to know how to identify deafness in your dog, as they will not respond to audio commands.
Training a deaf dog requires body language and hand signals. It’s essential to maintain safety, as they can’t hear dangers.
With understanding and proper care, deaf dogs can lead happy, healthy lives.
