MAINE — A man who was born deaf is now the owner of a sweet puppy who is also unable to hear.
Nick Abbott, 31, of Maine, adopted his dog Emerson through the foster-based rescue, NFR Maine, ABC News reports.
At 6 weeks old, Emerson was rescued from a shelter in Florida and later transferred up north.The black lab mix experienced seizures and an infection known as canine parvovirus, or parvo.
“Once we got him home from the vet’s office from Florida, we realized he had hearing difficulties,” Powers told “Good Morning America. “He doesn’t let it bother him at all, though he’s a typical puppy.
A few weeks after they put Emerson up for adoption and wrote a Facebook post about him, NFR Maine received an application from Abbott, who said that he was deaf as well and thought he might have a good connection with Emerson.
The shelter quickly processed his application, and the two met, hitting it off. “They were meant for each other,” Richelle Abbott, Nick Abbott’s mom, told Good Morning America.
“It’s amazing,” she said. “Whenever they’re together, Emerson is always finding a way to lean on Nick.”
Richelle said Nick has been teaching Emerson sign language to sit, lay down and come.
“If Nick reaches up and shakes his ear lobe, Emerson will bark,” she said. “It’s so cute.”