This deaf dog found a new loving home and the best forever companion

14-year-old Walker Cousineau with hearing difficulties came across this deaf pup on social media and he knew right away that their match was made in heaven. The family offered the special dog a loving home and a companion who truly understood him.

‘This dog is deaf. Just like me!’

Walker Cousineau, a 14-year-old boy from Michigan, first saw a happy-faced 6-year-old pit bull Dave on Facebook.

His mother Mindy remembers him calling out to her:

This dog is deaf. Just like me! I need him — he’s my dog.

Mindy and her husband Jim jumped in the car that weekend and drove 35 miles to the Midland-based Bissell Pet Foundation’s adoption event. They asked to see a deaf dog they the rescue called Puppy, and as soon as they brought him out, the family knew there was no going back, The Washington Post writes.

‘It was love at first sight’

Walker, who has high-functioning autism and bilateral hearing loss, and the deaf pup bonded immediately. The family were surprised to learn that the clever pooch already knew sign language commands.

The teenager also gave his new dog a new name - Dave, after a Despicable Me movie character.

The family believe it was ‘pure luck’ for them to come across the deaf pooch.

Mindy Cousineau added:

It was love at first sight. We already had two dogs at home, but when we saw Dave plop down into Walker’s lap, it was a done deal. It was like Dave was saying, ‘This is my person.’

Emotional support

Mindy explained that her son can hear high-pitched tones but uses hearing aids to help him hear low-pitched sounds. Sadly, he ‘has been teased at school’ and ‘has meltdowns sometimes’, so Dave entered Walker's life right on time and became his much-needed emotional support.

The teenager's mother said:

When he showed that he related to Dave because he was deaf, we knew it was meant to be. They became instant friends.

And that emotional support and understanding were mutual.

Dave came from a family that neglected and then abandoned him, so he needed some extra love too.

‘He’s opened up because of Dave’

Dave sleeps on Walker’s bed and is never more than three feet from his side when he’s not at school.

The boy's mum said:

We’ve noticed a huge difference in Walker’s attitude and behaviour since Dave showed up. He’s more relaxed. When Dave sits next to him, he tells him about his troubles.

The fun-loving dog who adores freshly peeled bananas is also helping Walker spend more time outside, running around in the yard and playing fetch.

The family are in awe of the positive impact the deaf pooch made on their son’s life.

Walker's mum commented:

Walker has become more social and he’s talking now to kids at school. He even decided to join the school football team. He’s opened up because of Dave.

The teenager himself said:

Dave is my buddy. He’s a bit of a bed hog, but really I don’t mind.

Read more:

⋙ 'Dumped like a piece of rubbish': rescue’s horror after dog 'hours-from-death' found abandoned in a park

⋙ This dog was kidnapped, abandoned and lived like a stray, five years later it's back with its owners (VIDEO)

⋙ A pup abandoned with horrendous untreated burns charmed his foster family