TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – Meet Nozomi Tomika, a deaf woman from Massachusetts, who traveled to Tyler to adopt two deaf puppies to give them a home where they will be fully understood.

“They are precious. They are just deaf, and deaf dog’s lives matter, as well,” said Tomika.

Tomika and her family are completely deaf. After grieving the loss of their 19-year-old blind and deaf dog, they decided it was time to open their hearts to a new furry friend that experiences the world in the same way.

The puppies, who the shelter named Anjali and Amiya, were picked up by Smith County Animal Control in the beginning of June. According to Amber Greene, the Supervisor at Smith County Animal Shelter, it did not take them long to figure out that both pups were deaf.

“We brought them into the lobby area with the squeaky toys trying to get their attention, and it was nothing,” said Greene.

The shelter shared photos of the puppies in deaf dog groups online, where it was later shared to Deaf Dogs Rock, an organization that shares adoptable deaf dogs nationwide. It was there where Tomika discovered the puppies. From that moment, she knew it was meant to be, and made arrangements to make her journey.

Pawsitive Place Rescue, an East Texas animal rescue, organized the transportation for Tomika to come to Texas, and to bring home her new furry friends. Pawsitive Place Rescue also gathered local partners to send home gifts and supplies for the deaf pups and their new owners.

“Deaf dogs are perfect for us. I am excited to teach them to communicate with us,” said Tomika.

Tomika plans to teach not only American Sign Language, but Japanese Sign Language to communicate with the pups.

Tomika and her new companions are now preparing for a long drive back to Massachusetts, where a new life, and a lot of love, awaits them.

Their full story airs tonight at 10 p.m.

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