Miranda Spindel and Emma by the riverbank

Four years ago, Miranda Spindel met Emma. Spindel, a student in veterinary school, was working in the animal shelter in Fort Collins, Colorado. Emma, an 8-week-old deaf and partly blind abandoned puppy, was in the shelter.

The shelter staff loved and cared for Emma, Spindel said. But finally the day came when there was no more space in the shelter and Emma would have to be "put down," the term the shelter people use which means put to death.

Spindel made a big decision. She would adopt the deaf-blind puppy.

Emma had to change her lifestyle to adopt a puppy. She moved to a new apartment. She got a fence around her new yard.

She taught Emma to sit, stay, and come using touch instructions.

"Sit is a pat on the butt, down is a touch between the shoulder blades, and stay a touch on the chest," she explained.

Spindel's dad, an electrical engineer, made Emma a special collar. It works like a vibrating pager. Miranda uses the collar to call Emma.

"It creates a gentle buzz on the neck," she said.

"Emma is a loving, joyful pet," said Spindel.

"Adopting her was the best decision in the world!"

Deaf Dogs—Sometimes It's the Genes Dogs, as well as people, sometimes carry deafness in their genes. Dr. George M. Strain, from Louisiana, has tested many dogs for hearing loss. He has found several breeds that seem to have a high incidence of deafness. These are: In testing Dalmations, one researcher found 30% are deaf. Dog Breed Number Tested Percent Deaf Dalmations 5,009 30% English Setters 530 14.3% English Cocker Spaniels 828 7.2% Australian Cattle Dog 238 12.6%

For more information visit: http://www.deafdogs.org/