Deaf puppy finds perfect owner; hearing impaired man teaches him sign language commands

A puppy who has been in foster care now has the perfect home.

Emerson, a black lab, has had health issues. He had seizures and canine parvovirus. After he got a clean bill of health, he was put up for adoption, "Good Morning America" reported.

But he still faced roadblocks.

Emerson is deaf.

Workers at NFR Maine, a dog foster rescue, are not sure if Emerson was born without hearing or if he lost it later in life, according to GMA.

Lindsay Powers put the word out about Emerson on Facebook in March, hoping to find the pup a permanent home.

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A few weeks later, Nick Abbott, of Gardiner, Maine, reached out to NFR Maine.

On the application he submitted, Abbott explained he also is deaf and felt like he would connect with Emerson.  Powers rushed Abbott’s application that same day.

Shortly after, man and pup met and it was an instant connection.

Abbott has been teaching Emerson commands using sign language. And Emerson has learned to sit, lay down and come.

“If Nick reaches up and shakes his ear lobe, Emerson will bark. It’s so cute,” Richelle Abbott, Nick’s mother, said.

You can follow the pair's adventures on Instagram.

"The bond that we have is awesome," Nick Abbott told WABI. "We understand each other very well. I'd like to think it was meant to be. He's special."

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