A Winning Move – Deaf “Mahjong” Joins CLT Canine Crew

The ancient Chinese tile game of Mahjong requires skill, strategy and luck. You could say it was a stroke of good luck or maybe even destiny that saved the life of the CLT Canine Crew’s newest therapy dog with the same name.

Two-and-a-half-year-old “Mahjong” is an Australian Shepherd. His previous owner surrendered him to a rural veterinary clinic in the Missouri Ozarks because he was deaf. The dog probably would have been euthanized if it hadn’t been for a compassionate vet and her staff, who refused to put him down and kept him until a foster home became available.

Facebook Meet Cute

Charlotte-area physician Sheley Revis discovered him on Facebook through the Speak! Rescue and Sanctuary, and “was instantly smitten!” Dr. Revis reached out to the foster mom and explained that she was seeking another deaf dog with a temperament suitable for therapy work, following the death of her previous dog, McGrady, also a deaf “Aussie” and a former Canine Crew member.

(According to the American Kennel Club, breeding certain types of “merles” or “fancy patterned” dogs can result in recessive genes and potential deafness or blindness in about 25% of cases.)

After a few video chats, Dr. Revis committed to adopting Mahjong and met with a volunteer in Tennessee to pick him up. Revis doesn’t play the game but has been studying Chinese for the past 4-5 years, which is how she chose his name.

Hand Signal Training

Dr. Revis is a busy doctor at Novant Health University City Internal Medicine. In her free time, she trained Mahjong—and McGrady before him—using hand signals, similar to how hearing dogs are trained with a clicker and a treat. But instead of using a clicker to mark the desired behavior, she used a “thumbs up.”

“The absence of sound makes them MORE focused on you as there are no noise distractions,” said Revis. “And if he is outside at night and I want him to come in, I use a flashlight.”

Mahjong is now a proud member of the CLT Canine Crew, which celebrated its tenth anniversary in May 2025, and currently has 25 teams of dogs and handlers. Volunteers work two, two-hour shifts per month and interact with an average of 150 to 200 guests per shift, providing hugs, smiles and a soothing distraction for travelers and others.

“I don’t love flying, so to have a little stress reliever just puts a smile on your face for a couple of minutes; it is very sweet,” said Newark-bound passenger Brad Deiter, who stopped to pet Mahjong.

Flyer Mandy Bologna from Connecticut has fostered dogs with special needs. “And one of the things that really kills me is all of these dogs, no matter how confused and hurt they were, were the sweetest dogs I’ve ever met,” said Bologna.

”CLT Canine Crew was and is the MOST fun volunteer activity I have ever done…I love meeting people from all over the world,” said Dr. Revis. “I feel that both dogs’ deafness has been a major asset given the hubbub at the Airport. I also like the idea of having people meet a friendly, well-adjusted, gorgeous dog, only to learn, ‘Oh yeah, he’s deaf.’ I can’t think of a better advertisement for the capabilities of special needs pets.”

Learn more about CLT Canine Crew volunteer opportunities.