Blue was brought to the ASPCA by NYPD officers, and we quickly discovered that the lovable, four-year-old pit bull-mix was deaf. For the next four months, the team at the ASPCA Canine Annex for Recovery and Enrichment (CARE) worked to teach Blue hand signals, or “sign language,” so she’d be better able to adjust to a new home and communicate with her future pet parent.

The hard work paid off: This smart dog now knows several hand signals and has blossomed into a polite young lady—and she was recently adopted! Blue’s unique training not only proves that deaf and handicapped dogs can be trained, but that dogs with special challenges can become beloved pets if they are simply given the right tools.

That’s why, as we celebrate ASPCA Giving Day on August 29, we want to encourage you to #BeTheOne for dogs like Blue, and for animals everywhere. Here are five simple actions you can take to get involved this Giving Day!

1. Share your story with us! Tell us about a special animal in your life for a chance to win an ASPCA Giving Day prize pack and be featured on the ASPCA website! The winning stories will also be featured on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

2. Give a life-saving gift! While we work year-round to help at-risk animals, we couldn’t do it without your help. Your generous gift will help us kick off Giving Day, and will help impact helpless animals across the country.

3. Volunteer at your local shelter, or with the ASPCA. From walking dogs to fundraising, there are tons of ways you can get involved with your local animal shelter. Use our shelter finder to find a shelter or rescue group near you.

4. Consider adoption! There are so many pets across the country who are waiting to find loving homes. If you’ve considered adding a four-legged friend to your family, now may be the perfect time to visit your local shelter. The ASPCA has all the resources you need to find adoptable dogs and cats in your community.

Help us make this Giving Day a day to remember for the countless animals that depend on us.