Deaf dog learns special skills that help her find forever home

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A deaf dog named Cocoa was having a hard time finding her forever home, but that changed after she learned a special new skill.

Cocoa’s story started 2 years ago when someone gave her up at a no-kill shelter in Fort Lauderdale.

Kara Starzyk at Abandoned Pet Rescue says the Dalmatian mix was there along with Maria, Daisy and Cornbread, but no one wanted Cocoa.

Her disability kept her from finding a forever home, until trainers Richard and Sandra Ellis came in. She wasn’t able to hear them, but Cocoa picked up on their signage and commands.

They took her home as a foster and trained her.

The key, they said, was not being afraid.

Life quickly took a turn for Cocoa when Randy and Jamie Starr showed up looking for a new pet.

Cocoa, with her limitations and new skills, was exactly who they wanted.