Adopt a Labrador Retriever / Mixed (short coat)
Snowball *DEAF* the Dog needs a home
Age: 2 Years
Weight: 82 lbs (as of 12/7/17)
This dog has been spayed/neutered, is up to date on shots, on heartworm preventative and is microchipped.
This handsome gent is Snowball!
Snowball appears to be a Labrador Retriever mix about 2 years old and DEAF. He has a beautiful white coat, light blue eyes, and a light pink nose. He's a sweet, HAPPY dog, good-natured and friendly. He has never met a stranger and is always eager and ready for the next adventure. He has a sparkling personality that is sure to bring his new family many, many smiles.
This goofy boy loves to play with toys, as well as to sleep with large stuffed toys. He is outgoing, affectionate, and loves to be at the center of activity. He can be something of a escape artist from fenced yards if duly motivated - his primary motivation is to be around people. At this time, he has not had much training, and is only allowed limited access in the home. He has started e-collar training to work on his recall and "look" skills, essential commands for deaf dogs. Snowball's adopters will need to be committed to continued training on leash and basic commands, as well as solid recall and vibration collar commands.
Snowball has a lot of love to give and energy to share - he will thrive with plenty of daily mental and physical exercise. He also needs a family who is committed to learning his training language and being consistent (free Rhode Island-based training support of four sessions will be provided). A large fenced-in yard is a must. While he is friendly, his canine social skills with other dogs have not yet been fine tuned, so for now, it would probably be best for him to be an only dog. He does not show any aggression to other dogs, but getting them to communicate properly to develop a good relationship is difficult in Snowball's current training state.
Please remember, dogs do not love through their ears...they love through their hearts! Snowball is not special because he is deaf, but because of who he is despite his deafness! Do not let his deafness stop you from considering to adopt him, as deaf dogs can make wonderful family members for families ready and eager for their special needs.
If you have room in your heart and home for a dog like Snowball and will welcome him into your pack, we promise you that you will wonder how you ever existed without him.
Snowball's Backstory: Snowball came from a property out in the Arkansas country that had 40 dogs. When first brought to the shelter, he weighed a mere 37 lbs. and was heartworm positive. Originally, Snowball wasn’t used to human attention, but he quickly realized how much he likes people and he now tries to make friends with anyone who will listen. He was not happy about being fenced initially, as he was used to being chained, but he has become accustomed to his kennel as well as the crate.
Medical Note: This dog has been treated for heartworm disease with melarsomine injections. Once treatment is completed and the dog tests negative for microfilaria, the dog will be cleared to resume normal activity and able to be adopted. Untreated heartworm disease can cause lasting damage to the heart, lungs and arteries, and can affect the dog’s health and quality of life even after the parasites are gone, possibly presenting as medical complications and/or new conditions in the future. This dog showed no symptoms of heartworm disease before or during treatment. A good resource for more information on heartworm disease is:
https://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/heartworm-basics
. Please check with your vet if you should have any questions or concerns about this condition, and discuss any concerns you may have with your SOS Adoption Counselor.
Adoption Fee: $425
**Additional info you should know - For most of our dogs, we are only guessing at predominant breed or breed mix. We get to know each of our dogs as an individual and do our best to describe and place them based on personality not breed label. Some dogs may not yet be in New England, nor ready for immediate adoption. There may be additional vetting, quarantine, waiting periods and/or fees depending upon your state of residence. If you have questions or concerns on any of this, you can discuss this with your Adoption Counselor.
- Animal: Dog
- Breed:
Labrador Retriever / Mixed (short coat)
- Size: Large
- Gender: Male
- State: Rhode Island
- Zip/Postal Code: 02880
