The Austin Humane Society ’s all - star sleeper found her incessantly home right before Christmas .
Xyla has adorable maculation , heedful ear , and she loves sport a nice sweater . But this certified cutie had to hold off for 240 days at theAustin ( Texas ) Humane Societybefore she was eventually take in — most likely because she ’s deaf .
Then known as Aspen , she arrived at AHS from Bastrop County Animal Services . The AHS staff took to train the deaf dog — which isnot as hard as you might think!—but potential adoptions fall through and Xyla remained at the protection for months . Until Gianna Luciano and her roomie showed up .
Courtesy of Bissell Pet Foundation
" She is the sweetest , most loving creature I have ever been around , " Luciano tells Daily Paws .
After about eight months at AHS — not to name however long she spent at her previous shelter — it seemed that Xyla had found her forever home with Luciano , and the AHS staff was overjoyed . They ’d trained Xyla and watched the shelter ’s all - star sleeper miss out on other homes .
" She deserves a family who loved her as much as we get laid her , " says Katie Kennedy , communications theatre director for AHS .
Courtesy of Bissell Pet Foundation
When she first come at AHS , stave members start teaching Xyla to espouse signboard - language cues in place of spoken words . Plenty ofcuesinclude paw signals , and when Xyla would follow her instruction , she ’d get a thumb up and then a delicacy as herpositive strengthener , Kennedy says .
She was trained , but Xyla was still waiting for a home . Without her hearing , she was n’t as responsive to visitors when they stopped by , so AHS staff put up instructions so citizenry could get her attention . The Stephen Foster - to - embrace program failed to secure her nursing home as well .
But Luciano and her roommate get in at the shelter before the December holiday . It was their first check on their preliminary search for a hot dog ; they were n’t design on bring one home until after Christmas . Welp !
They saw Xyla had been in the shelter for a long time , and they decide to meet her alfresco , aside from her kennel . They were the first the great unwashed to take her out in a while , so faculty separate her that the mellifluous dog might be shy at first . Nope . Once out of doors , Xyla sit down on Luciano ’s foot and looked up excitedly .
" It was prompt love at first raft , " Luciano says .
They brought her dwelling the next sidereal day , part of the Bissell Pet Foundation ’s Empty the Shelters Holiday Hope program . The 4 - year - old puppy adjust quick . She ’s smart , and Luciano uses her hired man signals — though Xyla is stubborn enough to not depend at her possessor if she does n’t want to see what they ’re tell her . She loves playing jerk of war and walking on the lead outside their north Austin home base .
According to her adoption paperwork and her spots , Xyla seems to be aDalmatianmix . ( Dalmatians are more likely than other breeds to be deaf . ) She ’s still great at sleeping , and she ’ll remain unbothered by stochasticity , Luciano says .
That ’s a welfare of own a deaf dog , but there are minor frustrations . Luciano , 22 , says she ca n’t really blame Xyla for ignoring plea to not jump on the counter . They bought Xyla a oscillate collar to cark her from likely mischance like the counter - surfing , and sound out they still chat with her like anyone would with their pawl .
Luciano interpret why Xyla ’s deafness might ’ve dissuaded potential adopters . She take the veracious fit , someone who could spend more meter with her than another dog might need . Luciano and her roommate had the prison term and were willing to put in the effort . They say it was worth it .
" She really is amazing . "
