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By Jack Beresford
Senior Reporter
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A Labrador retriever who was abandoned at a shelter in the most heartless of circumstances has found happiness again with a new family.
Echo the 5-month old pup may not have been wanted by her previous owner, but she quickly made friends after arriving at a Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) shelter late last year.
"Our team fell in love with her as soon as she came to us," a spokesperson for the shelter told Newsweek. "She stole everyone's hearts."
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Not much is known about Echo's life before she arrived at the shelter, but what staff did witness during their brief interaction with her previous owner was not good.
"She was dropped off by someone, and before we could get any information from them on Echo's background, the person drove off and yelled 'she's deaf!' as they drove away," the SPCA spokesperson said.
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Sadly stories of dogs being abandoned in heartbreaking circumstances are proving all too common as shelters across the country experience an influx of new arrivals to add to the already overloaded populace of shelter pets.
Each year 6.3 million pets enter U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 during January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared with January 2022, the 24Pet 'Shelter Watch Report' found.
Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.
Echo spent two and half weeks with the Louisiana SPCA before being transferred to Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO), who were enlisted to help find her the perfect family.
Staff don't know for sure whether or not Echo was born deaf, but they quickly deduced that she was one clever canine, capable of understanding sign language. Much more than that, she was a happy, affectionate dog. "She's very playful, and loving, and doesn't know she can bark, she has the cutest bark," the Louisiana SPCA said.
Soon enough, ARNO were able to identify the perfect forever home for a dog with Echo's unique needs. He's now busy settling into a new life with a new family that includes two dog siblings, Pearl and Oliver, who are also deaf. It puts all three on an even footing, while Echo's new owner's experience will prove invaluable in helping her settle in.
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"They speak highly of Echo, and she seems to be settling in nicely, enjoying her new siblings who view the world similarly to herself," the Louisiana SPCA said.
It's a remarkable turnaround for Echo and one that goes to show there is a place for every dog out there.
"Echo's journey from abandonment to a loving home is a testament to the power of compassion and the joy of embracing uniqueness," the Louisiana SPCA said.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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