Pogo is deaf. Mostly blind. One ear flops over. 

That might explain why he’s been at Companions Animal Center just south of a year and is the shelter’s longest-running resident canine. 

It can be hard to find a home for a healthy shelter dog. Mix in special needs, and it can seem like nothing short of a miracle. 

Pogo got that miracle. It's 1,200 miles away.

Maddie Browne of Colorado Springs, Colo., will be making a five-hour drive to Casper, Wyo., later this month to meet CAC volunteer and friend Liz Eck to pick up the terrier/American pit bull mix.

She has owned special needs dogs before, so she knows how demanding and endearing they can be. Still, she takes them in. 

She already looks after dogs, cats, horses and chickens, so Pogo will have plenty of company. 

“I have a feeling it will go pretty easy,” Browne said. “It all depends on the dog. I tend to set things up for success as much as possible."

Vicky Nelson, CAC spokeswoman, hopes so. 

She said 18-month-old Pogo deserves a great home. 

“He’s a sweetheart,” Nelson said. 

The dog was brought to CAC last year by animal control after being picked up. No one claimed him. 

Staff discovered that not only could Pogo not hear, but he was near-sighted.

Eck, a volunteer dog walker, said Pogo tugged at her heart and she wanted to help him find a home, so she sent his picture to Browne and asked if she could adopt him.

“The sweetest little thing ever,” Eck said. 

Browne had doubts about another special needs dog, but looked at the picture. An adorable face peered back.

“Maybe I can open my heart up to another dog," she said.

Kristina Jensen, CAC canine technician, said they have been teaching Pogo sign language and he has learned to sit. She said a dog like Pogo needs an owner with patience.

“He's a big love bug,” Jensen said.

Pogo got adopted once, but after he crashed through a glass door, he was returned.

“You have to find people willing to put in the time they require and need,” she said.

Browne is such a person.

She adopted a deaf blue heeler/Staffordshire mix about 11 years ago and they bonded. That led her to dog training and working as a vet technician.

“He set my life in motion for it,” Browne said. 

She adopted another deaf Staffordshire later.

“It's definitely not the easiest thing to do,” Browne said. “You have to account for little changes throughout the day. If he goes out it’s not like I can call him.” 

Her property is fully fenced, and she gets their attention by flipping lights on and off. She also teaches them hand signals. 

She said in some ways, it’s easier than working with hearing dogs.

“Working with as many deaf dogs as I have, they’re super intuitive,” Browne said. “Most go a year without anyone realizing they’re deaf.”

Jensen and crew at CAC are elated when a dog like Pogo finds a home, even one so far away.

“It feels like the first time you eat ice cream. Sweet, exciting and a good feeling that never goes away,” Jensen said.  

    Pogo enjoys friendly pats from friends at Companions Animal Center.