Deaf man adopts hearing-impaired dog and teaches him sign language

Call it a match made in heaven.

Last month, Emerson, a deaf puppy taken in by the North Florida Animal Rescue's branch in Maine, was featured on the shelter's Facebook page in hopes of finding him a forever home.

Fortunately, Nicholas Abbot, who is also hearing-impaired, took notice of the special pup and decided to take him in.

"I said, 'Oh, he's deaf too,'" Abbot told WABI. "Maybe I can go check him out to see what he's all about."

Photo: Facebook

Two months before his adoption, Emerson was struggling to survive. In February, the shelter posted a request for donations after the pup developed Parvo — a highly contagious canine virus that can lead to fevers, vomiting and severe weight loss.

"He keeps having seizures and is not eating or drinking," the post read. "We have him at the emergency vet and are doing whatever we can to help him."

At the time, Emerson's plight didn't receive much attention on Facebook. Just 14 people came together to donate $380 — a fraction of the $700 to $850 medical bills his treatment would incur. But the dog recovered and began to generate interest among people who were interested in adopting him. Abbot, who was born deaf, was one of them.

When Emerson and his future owner finally met, the two instantly knew they were meant for one another, Abbot said.

"He came straight to me at the door and sat right away at my feet and stayed there," Abbot said. "So you can tell he kind of picked me. And I knew right then and there that we would get along and understand each other pretty good."

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Since adopting Emerson, Abbot has trained the pup using visual commands. When Abbot wants Emerson to sit, for example, he translates the instruction in sign language.

"The bond that we have is awesome," Abbot told WABI. "We understand each other very well. I'd like to think it was meant to be. He's special."