Want to adopt Patch? You'll have to speak his language

Rotorua SPCA staffer Alex Jones is going to find it hard to part with Patch, a deaf collie-cross who has learned commands through sign language. Photo / Alan Gibson

Meet Patch. He's up for adoption and free to anyone with the love and time to give him the attention he needs.

And did we mention you'll need to learn sign language?

The friendly collie cross is the Rotorua SPCA's first deaf dog, which hasn't made him the most appealing option for people looking for a pet.

SPCA staff member Alex Jones taught Patch to sit, stay and shoosh through sign language. She said the 18-month-old was raised as a pig dog before his owners quickly found he wasn't cut out for hunting and dropped him into the shelter.

"He went to a home on a trial, but when the door kept getting left open, Patch would go for a wander and couldn't find his way back home. They came in and said there's something not quite right."

Patch's friendliness meant his keepers at the shelter were oblivious to his ailment for weeks.

"If you look at him, he responds by wagging his tail. And you find that most new dogs don't sit or wait when you tell them to anyway," Ms Jones said.

"It wasn't really until he went into the vet; they tried clapping next to him, and there was just nothing.

"I've never taught a deaf dog at all, and I was like 'hmmm, what do I do?'

"He's a very intelligent dog, which helps, and he didn't need treats at all - he just thought, I get attention when I do this, and I'll get patted when I do this," Ms Jones said.

Knowing how easily Patch could be confused by hand signals, she invented unique gestures unlikely to be otherwise used in everyday body language.

"He's picked up all his little tricks. He knows shoosh, wait, sit and come. Now I just need to teach them to someone else," she said.

"A lot of people come in wanting a dog that doesn't have problems, but unfortunately, the SPCA gets dogs with problems."

Patch has become a star among staff during his seven months at the shelter - and Ms Jones admitted the pooch was her personal favourite.

"He's always looking around in six million places to see who's going to pat him next. He's everyone's best friend.

"The problem is, he flies up to other dogs to say hello while they're still sussing him out and then all of a sudden they're pinning him on the ground.

"He has no idea of what aggression is and thinks the world has come crashing down when other dogs are mean to him."

The ideal new owners for Patch would have another dog he could befriend - and a good throwing arm, because he will play fetch all day.

Ms Jones, who has almost adopted Patch herself, said seeing him go to another home would be a double-edged sword.

"It'll be great to see him go and be loved by someone else ... but it'll be really, really hard not to say, 'Oh no, I'll take him home myself'.

"It'll be quite hard to part with him - but good at the same time."

People interested in adopting Patch - and learning his sign language - should phone the Rotorua SPCA on (07) 349-2955.