Pam – a long-term ambassador of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People – is encouraging the public to donate to her ‘Pam’s Pawprints Appeal’, set up to help fund the training of more hearing dogs to replace those who have retired or have passed away.
The Pawprints Appeal will benefit deaf people like Linda Duckling, 63, from Enfield in North London. Linda tragically lost her beloved four-year-old hearing dog Rascal following an illness in October 2010.
When Rascal passed away, Linda not only lost her ‘best friend’ but also her means of awareness to sounds – her confidence, independence and faithful companion. She felt lost, vulnerable and isolated.
Linda said: “I feel lost without Rascal. I have withdrawn back into myself. I don’t want to go out because without Rascal no-one knows I can’t hear them.
“I am once again deaf to the sounds that Rascal made me aware of. It’s been nearly a year and the only thing that has kept me going is the promise of another hearing dog and the support of my family.”
She added: “I hope this appeal will help recipients in a similar position to me to be provided with a replacement hearing dog as soon as possible.”
Due to increased demand for hearing dogs from deaf people all over the UK, there is an urgent need for funds to enable the Charity to increase the number of hearing dogs that can be trained each year.
As well as many new applicants, there are currently around 40 people like Linda on the Charity’s waiting list whose dogs have retired or passed away.
Pam St Clement says: “With your help, we can raise the vital funds we need to train the replacement dogs of the future and reduce the waiting time for recipients like Linda who have lost their special companion.
“We want to ensure that more trained dogs are ready to step into the pawprints of their predecessors so that we can reduce the length of this difficult waiting period. I would ask people to give generously to this appeal. Hearing dogs really do change lives.”
Bill King, acting chief executive of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, says: “The Charity makes a life-long commitment to every recipient, and so this appeal will really help us to plan for the future needs of hearing dog recipients like Linda, and also those requiring a third and sometimes fourth replacement dog. Linda’s story really highlights the importance of a deaf person having a new dog within the shortest time possible.”
Hearing dogs provide a life-changing level of independence, confidence and companionship to their deaf recipients by alerting them to important household sounds and danger signals in the home, at work and in public places. These include the alarm clock, doorbell and smoke alarm – sounds hearing people often take for granted.
Each hearing dog also helps to bring a visibility to their recipient’s deafness thanks to the burgundy jackets they wear when out in public. This creates a new level of confidence, security and peace of mind for a deaf person who may have previously felt too isolated and vulnerable to leave their home.
See a special video message from Pam St Clement and Linda Duckling’s story below, or via the following link:
If you would like to make a donation to this appeal please click here. Thank you!
