Quiet North Carolina Dog Was Left Behind At An Adoption Event As Every Other Puppy Found A Family
After being found wandering in North Carolina hurricane floodwaters and overlooked at an adoption event, a quiet dog named Bastian discovered a unique way to communicate with his new family.
Left Behind At The Event
In 2018, Hurricane Florence brought devastating floodwaters to North Carolina, displacing countless animals. Among them was Bastian, a resilient dog found wandering the flooded streets all alone.
He eventually made his way to a North Carolina adoption event, hoping for a second chance. However, his online photo hadn’t done him justice, and as the day went on, he became the only dog left unadopted.
That all changed when his future family walked in. The second we met him, we realized that he was definitely our dog, his owner recalled. He was waiting for us.
A Quiet And Anxious Beginning
Bringing a hurricane survivor home comes with unique challenges. When Bastian first arrived at his new house, the trauma of his past was evident.
He was incredibly quiet and highly anxious, unsure of his new surroundings. The family knew they had to be patient and give him the space he needed to decompress.
They wanted nothing more than to see his true personality shine through. They just needed to find a way to help him feel safe enough to express himself.
Finding His Voice
The family decided to try something unconventional to help Bastian communicate: recordable sound buttons. They hoped that giving him a way to express his needs would ease his anxiety.
His very first word was “treat.” His owner laughs about it now, calling it a “beginner’s mistake” to start with such a highly motivating and easily requested item.
But that single button pressed with a tentative paw changed everything. Bastian suddenly realized he had a way to make himself understood.
A Confidence Bloom
The transformation was nothing short of miraculous. “Bastian’s confidence really started to bloom when we got the buttons,” his owner explained.
Having the ability to ask questions and make choices brought out an entirely different dog. The quiet, anxious pup was replaced by a dog who knew exactly what he wanted.
In fact, his confidence grew so much that his family jokes he now thinks he runs the house.
Processing Heartbreak
The buttons proved to be more than just a tool for asking for snacks; they became a way to process deep emotions. The family shared their home with two 12-year-old cats, including one named Hallie.
When Hallie was no longer with the family, the entire house felt her absence. Bastian, who had grown close to his feline siblings, felt the absence deeply.
Through his buttons, Bastian started to work through those complex emotions. It was a poignant reminder that dogs possess a profound emotional awareness that humans aren’t always privy to.
Inspiring His Feline Sister
Bastian’s communication journey didn’t just impact his human family. He frequently tries to speak to his surviving cat sister, Kiley.
At first, Kiley was completely uninterested in the buttons. The family tried to teach her, but she simply preferred to watch Bastian use them from a distance.
However, seeing her canine brother successfully ask for things eventually piqued her curiosity. Soon after, Kiley started exploring the buttons on her own.
Late-Night Boat Requests
As Bastian’s vocabulary expanded, so did his list of demands. He absolutely loves spending time outside and frequently uses his “outside” and “walk” buttons.
He’s also learned to ask for his favorite specific activities. One of his absolute favorite things to do is go for a ride on the family boat.
His concept of time, however, is a bit different from his humans’. There was one memorable instance at 10:30 at night when Bastian pressed the buttons to say, “Great, let’s go for a boat ride.”
Seventy-Eight Words And Endless Love
Today, Bastian’s soundboard is massive. He currently has about 78 buttons at his disposal, and his family notes that he uses 60 of them with absolute confidence.
From wandering alone in terrifying floodwaters to having a vocabulary of dozens of words, his journey has been incredible. He went from being the dog nobody wanted at an adoption event to a vibrant, communicative family member.
Perhaps the most beautiful button he presses is the one that says “I love you.” It’s a daily reminder to his family that rescued animals are so much smarter—and more loving—than we often give them credit for.
