The heartwarming tale of Aspen, the 4-year-old Austin dog taught sign language, serves as a testament to the power of dedication and compassion in the world of animal rescue and adoption.
Aspen’s journey began when she found herself at the Austin Humane Society (AHS) after being rescued from the Bastrop County Animal Services shelter, where her life was in jeopardy. It was immediately clear that Aspen was unique; she was deaf and unable to respond to verbal commands. However, the compassionate volunteers at AHS refused to let this obstacle stand in her way.
Teaching a dog sign language may sound like a daunting task, but as Katie Kennedy, AHS’s director of communications, explained, it’s not as different from regular dog training as one might think. Dogs already respond to various hand signals when learning commands like “sit” or “lay down.” For Aspen, the challenge was identifying the specific hand gestures that would replace verbal commands, effectively creating her unique sign language.
Aspen’s journey to learn sign language was marked by dedication and love from volunteers who used treats as positive reinforcement for correct responses. Through this approach, Aspen quickly picked up commands like “good girl” and “watch me.” This not only showcased Aspen’s remarkable ability to adapt but also made her more approachable to potential adopters.
AHS’s “Foster to Adopt” program allowed Aspen to meet several prospective owners to find the perfect match. On December 7th, that perfect match came, and Aspen found her forever home. The heartwarming photo of Aspen smiling in her sleep seemed to symbolize her contentment and the alignment of her new life with a loving family.