Maryland worker taught an anxious, deaf pit bull hand signals, then wondered 'who saved who'

For a long time, Kobe lived at the Humane Society of Harford County in Maryland, where the deaf pit bull also struggled with anxiety while spending his days in the kennel.

After meeting him through weekend work at the shelter, Atticus Fagan gradually taught Kobe to respond to hand signals and eventually chose to adopt him.

Here's what to know

According to WMAR 2 News, Fagan has adopted Kobe after years of working with the deaf pit bull and building a bond with him.

When Fagan started picking up weekend shifts at the shelter, Kobe was one of the dogs he came to know. Fagan said the dog was tough to manage then.

"He actually was not a dog that I liked very much, because he didn't like going back into the kennel," Fagan said. "He had anxiety. He still does."

Fagan began working with Kobe individually, using hand signals and a vibrating collar to communicate with him.

Long odds stood in the way of Kobe finding a home because he was both a pit bull and deaf. Erin Long, the marketing director at the Humane Society of Harford County, said, "Yes, I think that definitely worked against him."

More background

Fagan said, "Because of just the anxiety that he has, we didn't feel super comfortable sending him to just anyone, especially a first-time deaf dog owner, a first-time dog owner at all."

His anxiety made placement more difficult, Fagan said, and his deafness meant an adopter would need to use a communication approach that not everyone is ready to handle.

By spending more time with Kobe at the shelter, Fagan slowly earned the dog's trust.

Long said she was moved by the process that led to the adoption.

"I love that Atticus was teaching him hand signals and trying to help him as best he could and then he just fell in love and I think it's wonderful," she said.

What can be done?

Individualized training and careful matching can improve the chances of adoption for special-needs shelter dogs.

Years of working with Kobe helped Fagan understand the dog's behavior and the best ways to reach him before he decided to adopt.

He used hand signals and a vibrating collar so Kobe had cues beyond sound, and that approach helped them establish a communication system they both understood.

Before finalizing the adoption, Fagan also fostered Kobe in his home.

"I think that his best chance was with me, because I don't know how long he would last otherwise," Fagan said.

Fagan said, "He's everything I need right now. He's very important to me and he's meant a lot to me for a long time now. I have a lot of anxiety, myself, and just having a presence there that loves me as much as I love him… that really means a lot."

Where can I learn more?

Like Kobe's story, these articles show how shelter dogs overcome long odds through patience, training, and human connection. They follow pit bulls and other overlooked dogs as they find homes, reunite with families, or transform after time in care.

• In Los Angeles, this pit bull mix finally found her home after 800 days.

• At Cincinnati Animal CARE, an owner recognizes him online just before the pit bull mix's deadline.

• After abandonment, Olive is training to help kids as she starts over.

• In Scotland, his foster family made him theirs after 1,055 days in care.

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