I lost my beloved, deaf dal Samantha ("Sammie-dog" as my little friend Nathan named her years ago in Texas) September 17, 2005. I had her for 12 1/2 years and she did not need to hear in order to know how much I loved her. After her death I knew I had to help another deaf dal. My husband was reluctant as we now had two small children but I searched and prayed for the perfect dog to enter our home. I was worried if too much time passed I would lose the skills and patience required for a deaf dog. I know that I also have the patience for dalmatians that some do not have so I kept the search strictly to that breed or a mix dal.

The patience paid off with our adoption of "Corrie" (named after my hero, Corrie Ten Boom). We not only got a puppy (she was 2 months old) but deaf and full breed dal! I drove 4 hours near Philadelphia to pick her up and I felt like it was Christmas! When I saw her I knew she was the perfect one for our family. She had quite a welcoming to the countryside we live in - she went straight to a party with me and everyone had to meet her. More people stopped in during the week to meet her. She got along great with the kids, our other two dogs (our female lets her cuddle with her to this day even though Corrie now out-weights her by 20 pounds!). She thought our black and white rabbits and black cat were her playmates as well.

She has fit right in our lives and loves running around our property ("100 acre wood") and diving in the streams. The home seems complete again with a beautiful, sweet dalmatian running around, comically ignoring my hand signals when she does not want to listen, and her by my side in the kitchen as I cook. I know my children will benefit from not only the great dog that she is but to also learn to have compassion for animals with "special needs". They love doing hand signals with her. If only it would work on them! :- )

Thanks WHDR and God Bless you for helping these animals. We could never have found Corrie or any dog like her if organizations like yours did not exist.