"This deaf pup gives hope to hundreds of kids!"

When teacher Chris Hannah adopted a deaf pit bull, he was inspired by his nephew, who is also deaf. But Chris never could have imagined how much hope and love the dog would inspire in so many others

- Bill Holton

Cole loves every student in Chris' classroom

You are such a sweetie,” Chris Hannah smiled as the 5-month-old pit bull scampered across the shelter floor, leapt into his lap and began licking his face. But the pup couldn’t hear Chris’ words. “He was born deaf,” the shelter worker explained, but for Chris, this wasn’t a problem—it was, in fact, the reason he and his wife, Nicole, wanted to adopt him.

Chris’ nephew, Kevin, is also deaf. So when Chris spotted the adorable pup on the shelter’s website, he and Nicole decided he’d be the perfect fit for their family.

Chris is a 23-year veteran music teacher at Dr. William Mennies Elementary School in Vineland, New Jersey, and the 600 students there include many autistic and learning-disabled pupils.

“We named the new puppy Cole, after the music teacher’s deaf little boy in Mr. Holland’s Opus,” Chris explained, and the students cheered the idea.

Chris and Cole help the world learn that everyone is special in their own way

Spreading love

Over the summer, Chris decided to get Cole certified as a therapy dog. But instead of using standard hand signals to train Cole, he used the American Sign Language his nephew had taught him.

Cole was a quick learner. Soon, Chris and Cole were volunteering at a local veterans center, and before school started, Chris asked the administrator, “Would it be okay if I brought Cole to school one day every week for the students?”

Usually, the first day of class is hectic with kids overexcited and teary over leaving their parents. But that day, there were no tears—everyone wanted to say hi to Cole and give him pets.