South Burlington, Vermont - March 8, 2011
In a lot of ways Hogan is just like the other dogs at the Humane Society of Chittenden County.
"He came to us because his owner, as a sign of the time, lost their housing," says HSCC Development Director Chuck Pizer. "He's kind, he's gentle, he's sweet and he's certainly made himself at home."
However, Hogan is missing one very important thing: his hearing.
"Hogan's deaf," Pizer explains, saying some dogs, like humans, are simply born that way. That disability hasn't stopped this 2-year-old terrier from learning so far.
"He knows some signs, some signals, which he'll do depending on his mood," Pizer says.
Now the team at HSCC is hoping to get another tool that they say will give Hogan a leg up on his disability.
"We're looking for a non-shock, vibration-only collar so we can help train him to help better prepare him for a new family that he'll go to," Pizer explains.
Now these collars don't come cheap. The regular price tag for a collar like this is about $250. That's not money the Humane Society has to spare so they're looking to raise funds, and Pizer says the results of the collar are invaluable.
"The training collar has different vibration levels where we can train him to come, to sit, to do all the different commands," he says.
Once the money is raised and the collar is purchased, the team will start training Hogan with it right away. Then when Hogan gets adopted the collar will go with him. Pizer says the addition of the collar makes Hogan an even better addition to a loving family.
"Hogan is amazing," he says. "He's kid friendly, he's dog friendly, he's cat friendly."
The HSCC staff hopes the community will be friendly to Hogan in return, helping him get a tool that will help him find his forever home.
Click here to learn more about Hogan. Click here to donate to the collar fund. Under the "Memorial Information" section, select "In honor of" and type in "Hogan." Any extra money raised will be used to purchase a second vibration-only collar for future dogs with hearing difficulties.
Rachel Feldman - WCAX News
