Oakley is a sweet, gentle soul. He loves everyone he meets, especially children. Oakley lost out on a couple of homes because of concerns that he would not do well with children due to being deaf. Several sources on the internet claim that deaf dogs are not good with kids because they startle easily and will bite. This is not true in every case, and Oakley's foster mom has worked with him to make sure he is ok with being startled. Oakley has loved every child he has met at adoption days. We recently sent Oakley to a foster home with 4 children aged 7, 9, 12, and 14 to evaluate how he would do with children in a home situation. He was also there while his foster mom babysat an infant and a 4 yr old autistic child. Oakley loved them all! Here is what the foster mom had to say on day 1:

Oakley is soo wonderful! He is a total love dog! We ALL piled on couches and watched a movie and he was somewhere in the heap getting lots of love. He has already been surprised by my youngest as he and I were cuddling out of sight of her. She could hear I was there, but not Oak, and she came bounding up out of nowhere all over us and I felt O jump a little but was immediately full of love for her. What a fabulous dog... Great with the hand signals, even from my kids!

Not only is Oakley a lovebug, he's as gorgeous as they come with marble blue eyes and unique coloring. Brains and beauty in this guy! He has graduated from obedience class. When people meet Oakley, they never guess that he is deaf. He knows hand signals and can Sit, Wait, Come, Down, and Stay on command!

Oakley has been diagnosed with epilepsy. It is well controlled with medication, which is very inexpensive (about $10 per month). He takes his meds in his food.

Learn more about deaf dogs and children from the Deaf Dog Education Action Fund
Click to learn more about the Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog

www.caretoadopt.org

Adoption saves lives!