Ruth’s first language is American Sign Language (ASL) because her parents are Deaf. So of course, when the family adopted a deaf kitten, they named it Snowy reflecting on her white fur and taught it kitty ASL.
When they called Snowy, they used the ASL sign for snow. They’d hold one hand up like a “this is a stick up” and then wiggle their fingertips downwards. When Snowy saw her name sign, she would run to them. When Ruth grew up, she began working for a deaf and hard of hearing organization.
In late Autumn, two years ago, her fiercely-independent 89-year-old grandmother’s health and mind deteriorated so fast that she forgot she had Bonnie, an eight-year-old dog. The grandmother was placed in a hospital and the family was oddly not alerted. Nine days later, Ruth arrived at her grandmother’s home to find it in total disarray. The starving dog was using the home as a litter box, and the heat was off.
Ruth gathered up Bonnie and her belongings and took her home. She and her husband rented a one pet home with Ruth’s 19-year-old cat, Babee. Desperate, she phoned her landlord who thankfully said, “You can keep the dog.” But now she had to tell Babee!
“When Bonnie walked in, she sniffed Babee once and then walked away,” said Ruth. “Since that brief introduction there has never been a hiss or a bark. She is the sweetest dog I’ve ever had. I take her to work and everyone loves her sweet gentle soul.”
Bonnie had always been with Ruth’s grandmother and was not accustomed to being left alone. Ruth’s co-workers bring dogs to work, so Bonnie “tagged” along too. To keep the furry social butterfly in her office there is a gate at the door.
It wasn’t just the staff who fell in love with the newbie-pup. Ruth practically has to pack a lunch when she wants to take the dog for a walk! Clients in the waiting room respond to gentle souled Bonnie by putting out their hands to pet and love on her. They ask, “Is your dog deaf?” “Are you bringing her in for a hearing test?” “Is she your guide dog?”.
“Having a dog at work relaxes the staff and our clients,” said Ruth. “Dogs put smiles on faces. It may not be the ‘norm’ to have pets at work, but hopefully that changes because it is so paws-itive.
Bonnie fits toddler size 5-6 T-shirts. On Halloween, she wore one with monsters on the back and the next she was Yoda because she is such a chill dog. Her Christmas shirt read, “Naughty? Nice? I tried!”.
Ruth confesses to being “a cat purr-son” before Bonnie’s sudden arrival.
“We are so blessed with her,” said Ruth. “People and pets can learn ASL. It can be helpful at any stage of our lives. Bonnie knows the signs for ‘Walk?’ and ‘Want to go potty outside?’ Of course, she gets more excited for the walk sign.
The day that I suddenly adopted Bonnie, my husband was out of town. I sent him a photo of her in our house. Brian did not bark or hiss at all, instead he typed back, “What’s my dog’s name?”
