Dog Deemed Unadoptable To Become First-Ever Deaf K-9 In Washington

March 2, 2018

Ghost is Washington state's first deaf K-9, and may be the first in the country.

Ghost with Barb Davenport

Ghost, a pitbull mix, was deemed "unadoptable" by animal control officials in Florida because of an abundance of energy and his deafness would also have required owners willing to learn new ways of communicating.

Ghost was scheduled to be euthanized, but Swamp Haven Humane wanted to give him another chance at a forever home. So they reached out to several animal shelters around the country, including Olympic Peninsula Humane Society in Port Angeles, which agreed to take him in.

That's when Ghost met longtime dog trainer Barb Davenport.

Davenport said she feels the best part of her job is taking dogs who might not be able to find forever homes, and working to help them become important members of their communities.

"I'm always up for a challenge," Davenport told KIRO 7.

Her hard work paid off. Ghost is currently living with his new handler, Joe Henderson, and is training as a narcotics detection dog for the Washington Department of Corrections.

He'll be the first deaf dog in Washington's K-9 history.