Emerson is a Labrador mix who was rescued from a Florida shelter when he was only a month and a half old. He was then brought to NFR Maine, where staffers were aware that he was suffering from various issues. Specifically, the dog had canine parvovirus and seizures, both of which he was able to overcome. It was only later that a vet determined that Emerson was deaf.

“Once we got him home from the vet’s office from Florida, we realized he had hearing difficulties,” said Lindsey Powers, who works at NFR Maine. “He doesn’t let it bother him at all, though he’s a typical puppy.”

Lindsey took to Facebook to try and find someone who would adopt Emerson, and she described the dog as a loving and friendly creature who would make the perfect pet.

When 31 year-old Nick Abbott from Maine saw the post about Emerson, he felt an instant connection to the dog, as he is deaf as well. Lindsey was overjoyed when Nick contacted her about Emerson, and just days later, the dog was going home with him!

“He had such a rough start to life and he ended up with an absolute fairy tale ending,” Lindsey said of Emerson.

Richelle Abbott, Nick’s mom, said that her son and the pup were “meant for each other.”

“It’s amazing,” she said of their friendship. “Whenever they’re together, Emerson is always finding a way to lean on Nick.”

Richelle added that Nick has been teaching Emerson sign language.

“If Nick reaches up and shakes his ear lobe, Emerson will bark — it’s so cute,” she said.

Find out more about this in the video below.