On International Volunteer Day (December 5), Hearing Dogs for Deaf People asked potential volunteers in the south west of England to train a puppy and change a life.
To tie in with the United Nations-endorsed day, the Charity – who will be celebrating their 30th year in 2012 – hopes to recruit new puppy socialising volunteers in the area, helping the Charity meet the demand for hearing dogs.
With the number of people suffering from a hearing loss in the UK up from one-in-seven to one-in-six, the provision of services such as a hearing dog is set to rise.
Hearing dogs are trained to alert deaf people to range of sounds both at home and in public too. These sounds include doorbells, telephones, mobile phone text messages, alarm clocks and fire alarms – sounds a hearing person often takes for granted.
Puppy socialisers are vital to the successful running of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. Over a 12-month period, puppy socialisers teach hearing dog puppies basic obedience skills as well as introducing them to different everyday sights, sounds, smells, experiences and environments ahead of a career as a hearing dog.
As a puppy socialiser, volunteers receive full financial support from the Charity plus regular home visits and support from its puppy training team.
Puppy socialisers home a puppy for around 12 months before it moves on to the Charity’s full training programme.
Tom Green, national puppy socialising manager for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, said: “The benefits of puppy socialising really are twofold. Not only do you get the opportunity to look after a bubbly and friendly puppy but you do so in the knowledge that your efforts will ultimately change a deaf person’s life bringing them independence, confidence and companionship.
“Puppy socialisers play a hugely vital role in the success of the Charity and they help to ensure hearing dog puppies get the best possible start as they begin their hearing dog journey.
“Ahead of the Charity’s 30th year and on International Volunteer Day, we would encourage new volunteers to come forward and take up what is a thoroughly enjoyable yet important role.”
As well as alerting their deaf recipients to sounds, the burgundy jacket worn by hearing dogs when in public helps to bring a visibility to deafness.
Currently there are 750 hearing dogs working across the UK and since the launch of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People in 1982, the Charity has placed over 1600 hearing dogs.
Watch ITV West Country’s feature on hearing dog puppy Tia, her puppy socialiser Jan Long as well as glimpse into the life of hearing dog recipient Ron Daniel and his hearing dog Biggles (opens in new window on external website):
If you would like to apply to become a Puppy Socialiser please click here >
Transcript of ITV West Country
Puppy socialising feature – aired 5/12/2011
(Sounds of a doorbell, a phone and a fire alarm)
Gareth Allen (reporter): The rhythm of our daily lives is punctuated by sounds most take for granted. Take those away and the experience can be one of isolation. That’s where dogs like Biggles come in. He’s been trained to alert Ron to sounds like telephones and doorbells.
(Doorbell rings – Biggles alerts Ron)
Ron Daniel (hearing dog recipient): What is it?
(Ron opens door)
Reporter: Hiya.
Ron: Hi, how are you?
Reporter: Very well thank you.
Ron: Morning – would you like to come in?
Reporter: Yes please – hello Biggles! Alright?
Reporter: Ron has barely any hearing. He wouldn’t hear a smoke detector even if he was stood below it. Biggles uses unique signals to respond to different sounds.
Ron: If I were in a building and the building was on fire and there was a fire alarm – I wouldn’t hear the fire alarm and the dog would alert me that problem. In fact, that situation has happened to me twice in my life.
Reporter: Tia is a ‘rookie assistance dog’. She will spend around 12 months with Jan before she is ready to undergo a thorough training programme. After that she will be placed. But not all animals make the grade.
Jan Long (puppy socialiser): Well all the expenses are met for her. So all her food and all her vet fees and anything that is going to cost money, so going to puppy classes – those petrol costs – are all met. As far as the responsibilities are concerned it would be the same as if you had your own dog, except for she has to learn a particular way.
Reporter: There’s a long waiting list for assistance dogs and while Tia has a potentially long career ahead of her, Biggles will soon retire. There’s a growing number of people in the area suffering from a hearing loss, so the message from Hearing Dogs for Deaf People – if you think you are up for the challenge of socialising a puppy, get in touch. Gareth Allen in south-east Cornwall, for West Country Tonight.
