When Ducky comes to Greenleaf, people notice
Sometimes it’s the snorting. Sometimes it’s the small crowd of staff members gathering in behavioral health clinician Chelsea Spoonamore’s office. And sometimes it’s because of the happy reactions of clients who specifically ask for appointments on “Ducky days.”
For a little deaf Boston Terrier who was once considered “untrainable,” Ducky has become one of Greenleaf’s most beloved unofficial therapy team members.
Chelsea, a licensed counselor at Greenleaf since 2017, adopted Ducky in 2022 after volunteering to help transport the eight-week-old puppy from Kentucky to Ohio. Ducky had been rejected by her breeder because of her deafness, and what was supposed to be a simple rescue trip quickly turned into something more permanent. “Trust me, she was not meant for me in that moment,” Chelsea joked. “I already had multiple dogs at home.”
But somewhere during the long drive back, the original adopter backed out, and Chelsea suddenly found herself bringing home a deaf Boston Terrier puppy of her own.
“Obviously we kept her,” she said.
A fast learner
From the beginning, Chelsea focused on teaching Ducky how to communicate. She was doing it on her own, but she saw how well Ducky was catching on. “Once she realized we were communicating, this girl could learn a sign in a day,” Chelsea said.
Despite concerns from some trainers and organizations, in October 2024 Chelsea found Pup’s Path, who were willing to work with Chelsea and Ducky to become a certified therapy dog/team.
Several courses, practice sessions, and four tests later, while Chelsea also studied animal-assisted treatment, Ducky earned her certification in May 2025.
Today, 3-year-old Ducky knows around 50 signs and is a certified therapy dog who has completed dozens of visits at schools, nursing homes, veterans’ facilities, community events, and Greenleaf itself. Ducky uses sign language, as well as light and leash commands, to interact with everyone she meets.
Ducky also has the type of deafness where you can feel vibrations. You can see her ears move and it seems like she is hearing something, but she is sensing vibrations. For this reason, she prefers lying on the floor versus a doggy bed. “She is very good at it and fools many people with her quick and accurate responses,” laughs Chelsea.
Dr. Ducky
At Greenleaf, Ducky has become an important part of the organization’s focus on mental health and wellness for both clients and staff.
Originally, Chelsea hoped bringing Ducky into the office might simply boost morale after several difficult years in the behavioral health field. Instead, Ducky quickly became a calming and comforting presence throughout the building.
“We have seen so many staff come to visit with her, walk around the building with her, and even come work in the office just to be in her presence,” Chelsea said.
Clients have connected with her just as strongly.
For younger clients, Ducky often becomes part of the therapeutic process itself. Children play with her during sessions, practice gentle interactions, and sometimes feel more comfortable opening up with Ducky nearby.
“Sometimes she is the icebreaker for the kids where they would rather tell her than me,” Chelsea explained.
For adults, Ducky offers a different kind of support — a quiet, calming presence during difficult conversations and stressful days. Chelsea jokes that even Ducky’s “therapeutic snoring” has become part of the experience.
“Kids are Ducky’s heart,” Chelsea said. “She will do anything for the attention of a kid.”
Ducky teaches everyone she meets that special needs dogs are unstoppable, and that deafness is only a barrier to be broken. Whether she’s helping a child feel safe during therapy or simply giving staff a reason to smile during the workday, Ducky is a reminder that connection, comfort, and healing can come in any form. And that just might be with four paws, loud snorting, and a lot of personality.
