Cole the Deaf Dog: From "Broken" to Superhero Cole is a deaf Pitbull who is teaching the world to "hear with their hearts." His mission as a disability advocate is as simple as it is profound: a disability is not an inability; it is a superpower.
The Journey to "Super" In early 2017, Cole sat in the South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter, passed over by countless families who saw his deafness as a defect. He was deemed "broken" by many, but in April of that year, he found his perfect match in Chris Hannah, a Vineland Public Schools music teacher, and his wife, Nicole. In a poetic twist of fate, a man whose life revolved around sound adopted a dog who lived in silence.The bond was instant. Cole quickly shattered every misconception about deaf dogs, showing a remarkable aptitude for American Sign Language (ASL) and an uncanny, intuitive ability to sense the emotions of those around him. Chris soon realized that Cole wasn't just a pet; he was a teacher and destined to make a difference by being different.Cole has worked alongside Chris at Dr. William Mennies Elementary School for the last seven years. At the school, Cole and Friends are much more than just therapy dogs, they are beacons of hope, perseverance, and absolute best friends.As a nationally recognized Disability Advocate, Cole’s life story, from shelter to superhero, brings to light the need for our world to find the “Abilities” within “Disabilities”.
The Cole the Deaf Dog & Friends Foundation What started as a personal bond soon sparked a movement. Cole’s ability to inspire resilience in children led to the creation of The Cole the Deaf Dog & Friends Foundation. Together, Chris, Nicole, and Cole travel across the Tri-State area delivering school assembly programs that tackle the heavy feelings of "brokenness" or being "different” in a lasting way that students carry with them. Their work doesn't stop at the assembly; the foundation actively empowers the next generation by awarding scholarships across Cumberland County specifically for special education students who have overcome their own hurdles and wish to continue enriching their education. Cole the Deaf Dog and Friends Foundation promotes and encapsulates the need and importance of Inclusion by teaching youth that being different is a strength, never a setback. Programs cultivate compassion by leaving a lasting impression of acceptance that students carry long after the program ends.
A Hero to Veterans and Students Alike Outside the classroom, Team Cole has been awarded the Presidential Silver Service Award for volunteer hours with local veterans, proving that a wagging tail can provide a type of healing that medicine cannot. Being hospice volunteers for seven years, they have brought comfort and joy to countless patients and families during such difficult times.
Awards: ASPCA National Dog of The Year (2023), American Humane Hero Therapy Dog (2022), Bridgeton Area Chamber of Commerce Community Hero Award, Philadelphia Phillies All-Star Teacher Award, CW Dogs of the Year, Presidential Silver Service Award. Appearances: ABC World News Tonight with David Muir, NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, Good Morning America, The Rachel Ray Show, Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, FOX, ABC, CBS, NBC, People, Newsweek, & Woman’s World Magazines.
The "Justice League" of Therapy Dogs Cole’s mission has grown into a family affair. He is now joined by his "superhero sidekicks"—a team of rescue pitbulls who prove that "limitations" are just opportunities for new strengths: Cole, the inspiration, Cece and Alice: Cole’s Deaf siblings, and Sullivan: Cole’s Deafblind little brother.The entire team is nationally certified through Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Inc., working together to spread a message of universal love and accessibility.