A deaf rescue pitbull named Buddy found the perfect family to go home with and now, he’s living his best life.
According to GeoBeats Animals, Buddy was brought into a rescue in Germany and it wasn’t long before the staff realized he was deaf. They believe Buddy was bred by a puppy mill or backyard breeder and because he couldn’t hear, he wasn’t worth selling.
A woman named Jennifer ended up seeing a video of Buddy and quickly fell in love. She wasn’t planning to adopt another dog, but she couldn’t pass him up.
Within two weeks, Buddy was officially part of Jennifer’s family.
Because Buddy is deaf, he doesn’t bark like a hearing dog might. His barks sound extremely unique and more like squeals or whines! Jennifer had to endure a lot of Buddy’s whining and barking at first, but the dog slowly adjusted to life in his new home and now, he couldn’t be happier.
Since welcoming Buddy home two years ago, Jennifer has noticed how much his senses have heightened. He uses his eyesight and other senses to navigate the house and compensate for his lack of hearing.
Buddy doesn’t let his lack of hearing slow him down one bit.
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
