There are many types of assistance dogs and here at Millie Paws HQ we sponsor a puppy for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People so we thought we would share with you what this charity does and how they transform lives.
https://www.hearingdogs.org.uk
Training hearing dogs who transform deaf people’s lives
There are lots of inspirational stories and photos on their website which you can explore at your leisure, but here are the 6 most important things you might like to know.
- Train clever dogs to help deaf people
In a nutshell – they train dogs to alert deaf people to sounds they would otherwise miss – simple sounds that many people take for granted like the
doorbell, alarm clock and even danger signals like the fire alarm. Being aware of these – thanks to a hearing dog – makes a real difference to deaf people’s lives.
- Help deaf people reconnect with life
But their clever canines do so much more than alert their recipient to sounds.
Deafness can be a very isolating disability. A hearing dog can give a deaf person a newfound sense of independence and confidence now they have a loyal companion and a true friend by their side.
- Dogs have even saved lives
As if this wasn’t enough – hearing dogs have saved countless lives in their important role; fire alarms sounding at the dead of night, alerting them to the shouts of a loved one who is in peril, even saving their recipients from potential car thieves!
Dogs are known for their loyalty and love – and we see these valuable traits in a hearing dog every day.
- Helped thousands of deaf people so far, and aim to help many more
Hearing Dogs have matched thousands of our adorable dogs with deaf recipients since their
humble beginnings in 1982. At the moment, they have over 900 working hearing dog partnerships across the UK.
They make sure that, once a deaf person has been matched with a hearing dog, they are guaranteed a hearing dog for life. So when their first hearing dog retires at about the age of 11, they will be soon partnered with a new dog – and a lot of them keep their former hearing dogs as pets!
The cost to train and support each hearing dog throughout their lifetime is £40,000 – so they rely heavily on their amazing supporters to help them change lives. It really is all down to people like you, who give up time, effort and money to help us create many life-changing partnerships. But there are still so many deaf people whom we can help.
- Put a lot of time and thought into matching a hearing dog with a deaf person
A hearing dog and their deaf recipient need to be carefully matched to ensure the partnership will work well.
So many little things need to be taken into consideration – for example, they wouldn’t match a bouncy, bubbly Labrador with a 70-year-old lady with mobility problems. But that Labrador would make a great companion for a fit 35-year-old who loves going out jogging every morning.
They take these important lifestyle factors very seriously to ensure they make the right match.
- Staff and volunteers are really passionate
They are so passionate about training these amazing animals, and it’s a real team effort. And everyone in the Hearing Dogs family has an important part to play.
Free e-newsletter that we send to 14,000
Get to know them better by having a look around their website. Or they can send you the best stories, videos and photos to save you time. Their free monthly e-newsletter is received by over 14,000 Hearing Dogs friends. It would be great if you joined, too.
You will get updates on our puppies' training, meet some of the deaf people their hearing dogs are helping and get exclusive behind-the-scenes photos and stories.
If you would like to get involved, here are three simple ways you can help.
Sponsor a Puppy Support them Volunteer for them
Deafness is an invisible disability
Being deaf can make many people feel totally invisible. It’s not an obvious disability as there are often no visible aids. And even if people know that someone is deaf, they don’t always know the best way to communicate with them.
How do hearing dogs help deaf people?
Imagine you are deaf. You can’t hear your alarm clock. You can’t hear your text messages. You miss out on social interactions. That’s what life is like for deaf people, and it can be very isolating. A hearing dog can make a big difference.
Hearing dogs alert deaf people to important sounds
A big part of a hearing dog’s job is to alert their deaf recipient to sounds they would otherwise miss. Simple sounds we take for granted like the doorbell, alarm clock and even danger signals like the fire alarm. Being aware of these – thanks to a hearing dog – makes a real difference in deaf people’s lives. Go to their website to watch short videos to see some of the sounds our hearing dogs alert to.
- The doorbell
- Alarm clock
- Digital timer
- Telephone alerts
- The call
- The smoke alarm
Have you ever stayed at home waiting for a delivery? Or waiting for someone to pop round? Imagine how frustrating it must be when you cannot hear the doorbell or a knock at your door.
They help deaf people leave loneliness behind
These clever hearing dogs don’t just alert their recipients to important sounds. Equally as importantly, they provide emotional support. Through the constant companionship of a fluffy friend, they give deaf people confidence to reconnect with their family, friends and community, and embrace the life they want to lead. Find out how much of a difference a hearing dog can make to someone’s life.
