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Being tied to a light pole and abandoned outside the shelter is not something this beautiful dog ever asked for or deserved. Left to spend the night outside of PAWS with no shelter, food, nor water until the volunteers found him the next morning. He quickly made new friends at PAWS.
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| The owner was located a few days later, only to say he didn't want him anymore. We learned that his name was Poncho, he was Pit Bull mix, and he was deaf. Now the PAWS staff had a better understanding of the challenges they faced. "Can you hear me now?" Yes, Poncho, now we hear what you were not unable to tell us.
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| A special dog with special needs. PAWS asked the help of Michele to search for a rescue that might be able to assist finding Poncho the right home. One adoption had already failed since he had arrived at PAWS and this loving dog deserved a second chance for a better life than living in a shelter.
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Such a happy boy with a personality that made you smile.
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| 'I'm done with pictures now!' I didn't know it yet, but Poncho was just giving me my first lesson on how a deaf dog can tune some out and not "listen" to what you want him to do by not looking at you. I now know that deaf dogs simply turn their back on you or turn away so they can't see what you are asking them to do. If they don't see you, they don't "hear" you. No more looking at Kristie or the camera and sitting still for any more silly pictures. Photo session done! Marlene & Kristie can leave now. And so it was........
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| While Poncho played, Michele went to work and found a rescue that would turn out to be the second chance we'd hoped for. Poncho would begin a journey that would take Michele hours of planning with an entire team that was needed to transport Poncho to Withrop Harbor, Illinois to a foster home that would teach him sign language and help find him his forever home.
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Poncho's journey begins! Jeff Bell, one of the PAWS Board of Directors, transports Poncho to meet up with one of the volunteers of a group called DDEAF (Deaf Dogs Education Action Fund) that would take Poncho on the second leg of his trip to his foster home.
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| Jeff meeting up with Amber. This was Amber's first transport for DDEAF and helping with the transport was only the beginning of her involvement with Poncho.
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| Amber is a social worker from Aurora, IL who joined DDEAF and also volunteers independently to help animals in need "for the sheer love of animals" as Amber puts it.
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One last walk with Jeff to find the right spot before Poncho leaves with Amber to travel to his foster home.
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| 'Good-bye, Jeff!' A moment of uncertainty no doubt for Poncho wondering if once again he's being left behind.
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| Why does she do this?......Amber puts it this way, "Being a deaf person...as a child, I was shunned out so animals became my best friends. I've always vowed to repay them back for their kindness and I'm still repaying. This debt would never be paid off this life time and I'm fine with that."
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A special bond begins between Amber and Poncho..... "Poncho was very calm during the ride", Amber reports. "Few times he'd come over by me and nuzzle me, giving me some doggy kisses during the drive."
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| Just watching the world go by. So many uncertainties.
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| 'Well, I might as well try to find a comfy spot. Looks like Amber and I will be traveling for awhile.'
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