When Hope Ponsart tells people the small white dog they’ve been playing with is deaf, they don’t believe her.
It was five months ago when the Springfield Township resident met Lilly, a little white dog with bat ears and a little stump of a tail, at the Rock Financial Pet Expo Novi.
‘I saw her and she was in this little crate and she seemed very disconnected to everything. When kids would go by and the other dogs would get up and they would wag their tails or another dog or something there would be some type of emotional response, but with her there was nothing,? Ponsart said. ‘There was just like this blank stare for everything. She didn’t move around a lot.?
When asked what was wrong, she was told the dog was deaf.
‘I took her out and walked her and things and she was kind of hard to handle, and I said ‘has anyone been working with her?? They said ‘no, unfortunately they don’t have time because rescues are pretty strapped right now,?? Ponsart said. ‘From what I’ve been able to find out, Lilly is a product of a backyard breeder. Perhaps that’s why she is deaf, when the folks who bred her decided she was ‘stupid,? they dumped her at the shelter.?
After meeting Lilly, Ponsart said she couldn’t stop thinking about her, so after the holidays she called Mary Wilson, founder of A Better Place rescue, who suggested she foster Lilly until they found Lilly a good home. After talking it over with her husband, they agreed.
Not knowing what to expect when they brought Lilly home, Ponsart immediately enrolled Lilly in an AKC ‘Star? puppy class at Companion Dog Training Club in Flint.
‘We spent six weeks learning all kinds of things, from basic commands like sit and stay, to housebreaking, socialization, and being a responsible pet owner,? she said. ‘I learned a lot about Lilly in those six weeks. I learned she is smart, and doesn’t give up easily, even when she’s frustrated or confused. She might not be able to hear you, but she feels deeply and when she learns to trust you, it’s for keeps.?
A classmate who teaches sign languagecame up with signs Lilly could understand and follow.
‘Lilly learned her commands like a champ,? Ponsart said. ‘I can’t even explain the feeling when I saw the light go on in her little puppy head and she made the connection between the sign and the desired response. She understood what I was telling her.?
She does one or two 15-minute training sessions with Lilly everyday just to reinforce what she learned.
‘It’s just repetition,? said Ponsart. ‘Some things we’ll practice all through the day, like if I’m home and I’m not working and I’m going up and down the stairs a lot. I’ll make her sit at the top of the stairs and stay. Then I’ll come down the stairs and say ‘Lilly now you can come.??
As to what kind of dog Lilly is, Ponsart is not sure. Perhaps a Bull-Terrier mix or a French Bulldog.
‘Lilly is uniquely herself. It’s a riot when she greets you at the door with her bat ears waving, little stump of a tail wagging and wiggling so hard, she practically falls over, thus the nickname, ‘Silly Lilly.??
Lilly now functions in the house just like any other dog, she said.
‘Except don’t expect her to come running when you call her when she’s asleep somewhere,? she said. ‘Lilly has evolved into a happy, confident pup, ready to make the transition into her own home.?
Ponsart said Lilly lives with three adult cats and Calvin “The Wonder Dog,” who Ponsart rescued outside a warehouse in Detroit. She said Calvin and Lilly enjoy long walks and playing together, but Lilly is ‘definitely all about being the ‘Queen Bee.??
‘Her ideal home might be one where she is the only pet, so it’s truly all about Lilly,? she said. “She is incredibly affectionate, happy to curl up on your lap whenever you sit down. She’ll follow you around the house, or quietly chew her favorite bone on her dog bed. Two 15 minute training sessions and long walks keep her energy at a manageable level.?
Ponsart understands it may sound like a lot of trouble to adopt a deaf dog, but she says she and Lilly have already done the hard work. If someone is willing to learn her signs and continue to work with her, ‘they’ll be rewarded in spades with a very loyal, loving companion for many happy years and people won’t believe she’s deaf.?
‘I like to picture Lilly with a couple with an RV. I can see them now, cruising off down the highway on another road trip adventure, Lilly sitting up front, of course, looking straight out through the windshield at what’s ahead,? she said. ‘I hope lots of good things are speeding toward Lilly, she deserves them.?
If you are interested in adopting Lilly, call Hope Ponsart at 248-328-0166.