Never Giving Up on Ninja
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They say actions speak louder than words, don’t they?
When Annie first came across Xina (listed as Keyona on PetRescue), something about her gentle presence and expressive eyes immediately stayed with her. Xina had a story that already felt like it was speaking its own language.
Xina is completely deaf and has special needs, but rather than seeing that as a limitation, Annie immediately felt a sense of understanding and possibility. Being partially deaf herself and already using hand commands with their dog Vader, she felt an instant connection to a world where communication is built through gestures, presence, and attention.
She remembers,
“When I saw Xina’s eyes and read her story on PetRescue, I just knew she was meant to be a part of our family and that we could help her live her life to its fullest potential. It felt like we were meant to find her.”
At home, communication had already taken on a quieter, more thoughtful rhythm long before Xina arrived. For Annie’s family, gestures, expressions, and body language were already part of everyday life. It was a home where connection did not rely on sound, but on noticing, watching, and understanding each other a little more closely. In many ways, it was already a place where actions carried meaning long before words ever could.
At the time, the family of five, including two adults, two children, and their much-loved six-year-old dog, Vader, had recently moved and during that transition, they also had a foster puppy stay with them. It was during this time that they saw Vader really start to shine again, Annie shares that she “came out of her shell and finally made a friend,” showing a playful, happy side that had been missing. When the foster puppy left, Vader became a little quieter again, and the family realised just how much she loved having another pet around. A visit from a neighbourhood puppy later confirmed it; she was ready for a companion of her own.
That moment became the beginning of their search through PetRescue.
Annie speaks so warmly about the platform and the way it brings so many stories together in one place. She says,
“What I really love about PetRescue is that it allows you to connect with so many different rescues and foster carers all over Australia to find the perfect pet for you.”
From the moment Xina arrived home, she settled in with a calm curiosity that immediately melted into family life. Sweet, observant, and always eager to be part of whatever was happening, she quickly showed that being deaf was simply part of how she experiences the world, not something that holds her back. Instead of sound, Xina relies on her eyes and heart, watching closely and tuning into movement, routines, and emotions around her.
Training her meant stepping fully into that visual world, and while Annie is honest that it was not always easy, it was something they embraced together. She shares, “Training a deaf puppy is a lot harder than it looks, which we knew from the beginning that it would be.” But with patience, consistency, and a lot of love, Xina began to shine. In just three short weeks, she had already mastered sit, wait, and come here.
Annie reflects on her determination with so much warmth, saying Xina is so determined to show everyone she is capable of anything.
” Every small milestone became a shared celebration, built on trust, repetition, and connection."
She also shares how much Xina has changed her perspective in the sweetest way, saying,
“She has taught me more about patience, enjoying the little things, and just overall how incredibly lucky we all are. She cannot hear a single thing, but to her the world is still filled with magic and wonder.”
At home, one of the most beautiful parts of Xina’s journey has been her bond with Vader. Annie describes it with so much joy, saying, “I would have to say the amount of joy and pride I feel watching our big girl Vader teaching, playing, and falling in love with her new little sister.” It is a relationship that grew gently, with time and reassurance, and has brought a lovely sense of balance and happiness into the home.
Annie also reflects on how important that reassurance was for Vader, saying she was initially cautious with affection because previous companions had only stayed temporarily. Annie shares, “After the first couple of days and lots of gentle reassurances that this puppy would not be going anywhere, both her and our two children seemed to realise she is actually part of our family now, and the next level of love and excitement filled my heart so much I ended up happy crying whilst cuddling her.”
Today, Xina is thriving in every sense of the word. She is affectionate, curious, deeply in tune with her family, and completely at home in her world of visual communication and connection. She has found her rhythm with Vader, brought so much joy into the children’s everyday life, and filled the home with a lovely, gentle energy.
And in a home where words have never been the main language, Xina’s story is the perfect example where actions really do speak louder than words.
