Deaf dog turns lonely as friends abandon him — then owner brings in a lifetime surprise

A beautiful adoption story graced social media when James Coburn (@make.life.happen) posted a video of his deaf dog, Poundcake, on Instagram. The video was originally posted on 3rd January and instantly went viral, reaching more than 5.1 million views and 450,831 likes. The compilation featured numerous clips of Poundcake with other animals in the dog park, and of their new adopted pitbull, Milkshake. The tale that follows turns heart-wrenching and much too real.

The onscreen texts narrated the story in detail, "Our deaf dog wanted a friend so badly... We tried dog parks, but he got left behind. He couldn't hear them run away. He then befriended our neighbour's dog. Poundcake had a friend, but one day his buddy moved away." They knew it was time, and so they adopted again. "Milkshake was also born deaf," and had been waiting 3 years for a home. "She got one and a brother. Not every story is a sad one. Sometimes life's most beautiful stories are born from sad ones. And, don't worry, Poundcake's buddy didn't move far away. The story is just beginning."

Coburn's whole Instagram profile is filled with videos of Poundcake in which he's often talking about his adoption story and other memories they've created together. In one video, he shares how Poundcake was initially given up because he was born deaf, "4 years ago we adopted a deaf puppy, he was 8 months old, his tail had been broken, he was used to people leaving, he learned signs, we saw his confidence grow." Coburn equally covered their new adoptee, Milkshake, sharing how the innocent deaf pitbull was dumped on the road with no one willing to give her a new home. After a long wait of 3 years, Milkshake was able to live a happy life, leaving all her trauma behind. "When you rescue an animal​, you don't know what they have been through, but the moment you pick them, they love you for life." 

Coburn shares how he has openly advocated for differently-abled animals. He wishes that through his videos and stories of Poundcake and Milkshake, more awareness could be spread regarding adoption. According to a statistical report by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), in 2024, approximately 2 million dogs were adopted from animal shelters, and 554,000 dogs were returned to their respective owners. 

The video not only received immense love through views and likes, but the comment section was overwhelmed with positive responses as well. @donna.tomkins shared her personal experience, stating, "I have a deaf dog, he is so loving, his momma passed, and his daddy helps me raise him, he loves his boy so much." @ayurveda_psychotherapy_yoga wrote, "Not me crying at the doggy staring in the mirror for a friend." "I’m crying. I have a deafie too," shared @leviandmaisy, while @sakura_als, exclaimed, "What a beautiful story!" 

The endearing story of Poundcake and Milkshake not only sheds light on the injustice many differently-abled animals have to face, but also the high rate of abandonment prevalent amongst them. According to anecdotal evidence, many animals with special needs, like diabetes, allergies, or physical disabilities, are rejected for adoption by families and individuals due to their high-maintenance nature.

For more wholesome dog content, follow @make.life.happen on his Instagram account.