Meet adoptable deaf two year old Ghost who is looking for a dog savvy person who will make positive reinforcement training/enrichment a priority and help him become the best he can be.
From his current caregiver: I adopted my dog through the Bridgeport animal control office. He was found wandering the streets of Bridgeport covered in infected barbed wire wounds. No one ever came to claim him so I brought him home and it became immediately clear that this poor, beautiful boy had never had a home before or had ever even learned how to be a dog. He is a two year-old red nose pit who since coming to me is now neutered and fully vaccinated. He’s still working on house training, though he has made huge improvements. He didn’t know what a bed was or what it was like to ride in a car for fun before. I’ve had him for 3 1/2 months and I tried to take him for a ride and stop for a treat each time so he associates it with fun. He loves to sleep right on top of me if possible and really wants nothing more than to be with his person. However, as much as I wanted it to be true and as hard as I continue to try, I do not believe he and I are a good match for each other.
Ghost is a very strong-willed and being deaf makes him reactive in certain ways. He was very reactive to my cats and I feared would try to kill them, so both of my cats had to temporarily rehome with my ex-husband while I figure out a solution here. I have not introduced him to other dogs because Im not sure I’d be able to control the situation. I do have a shock and vibration collar that helps at times. I do not shock him, but rather use the vibration as a warning and have only shocked him a few times when it was absolutely necessary. I do find it to be a helpful tool however, I still do not think I am the right personality for him. I live in an HOA and I am not able to let him out freely and I don’t have much of a yard anyway. I made the choice to adopt him during a very sad time of grieving and mistakenly thought he would be exactly like my previous pitbull. That’s on me and I understand that. When I found that we were not the right match for each other, I tried to return him and was told he would be euthanized if I did that. That wasn’t fair and this dog has been let down by humans his whole entire life. I cried just typing this to you. I have tried to find a non-kill shelter that might be able to help him find a better match, but have had no luck so far. I am reaching out to you to see if you have suggestions or solutions. Some of the other pressures I am facing are that a trainer and behaviorist are very expensive and I found myself unexpectedly unemployed recently. My whole life is up in the air right now and I don’t want this dog to miss out on having the best home he can due to my own shortcomings. This had been a very hard letter to write, and I hope it’s received with all the love and compassion that I wrote it with. I do love this dog and he does deserve better. I thought maybe you would know someone or have a suggestion for me. There’s a good boy inside of him, I just know it, and I see it often. He just needs more exercise and attention than I am able to offer him at this time and a much stronger leader than I know how to be.
He is very protective and at times is reactive, especially because he is deaf, so someone needs to know going into this that you can’t approach him from behind and touch him because he will startle and bark, in fear. He has never bitten anyone to my knowledge, but he does have a scary bark when we’re outside on the leash and he sees another person or a car drive-by. He’s very strong and very handsome. I know there is the perfect match out there for him somewhere and I’d like to see him find that person. Thank you so much for reading and understanding how much heartbreak this has caused me on the heels of losing my soulmate dog due to a rapidly progressing disease.
Ghost’s adoption fee is $100 to a screened and approved home only and you must live within a two hour distance from New Milford CT to be considered for adoption.
If you can give Ghost a loving forever home and be patient and boost his confidence (and keep him safe) please email Carrie at: