Here we show just how special all of our hearing dogs are: "Thelma’s devotion to duty in making me aware of sounds is just great, and my confidence and quality of life is growing day by day. She has many friends in our local supermarket, and now people stop me to talk to me about her and what she can do. We have even now been on holiday: this would have been unthinkable in the past, and is all down to Thelma giving me back confidence to enjoy life again."
Chris Goard and hearing dog Thelma
Hearing Dog of the Month
Each month a dog is chosen to be 'Dog of the Month' - all of our dogs are special in so many ways. These are just a few of our hearing dogs who have provided love and support to their owners.
Choose another Hearing Dog of the Month
May 2008
Name: Lye Breed: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
When severely deaf Nicola Willis decided to apply for a hearing dog, she already had a 14-month-old pet dog of her own – pretty Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Lye. After being assessed by Hearing Dogs Lye was accepted for training; then came the hardest part, Nicola had to be parted from Lye for four months while she was taught to respond to household sounds. Finally, in July 2005, they were reunited, this time with Lye in her smart burgundy hearing dog working jacket.
Since having Lye as a hearing dog, Nicola’s life has changed dramatically. “When I became deaf I withdrew into myself; became depressed and lost all confidence,” she explains. “What really upset me was that I became reliant on other people: I had lost my independence. I stayed in my house, but even that was awful as I just couldn’t hear even simple sounds. I was sinking fast. Then when Lye came back to me trained, everything changed. Friends started to call on me again knowing that, not only would the front door be opened but on the other side of the door would be two very happy individuals. It was like the light was shining again. My depression was lifting.”
However, in the past few months, Lye has acted above and beyond the call of duty. Nicola was recovering from a damaged knee and using crutches when she decided to go to the shops with Lye. “We were taking a short cut through an alleyway when I fell over, then I just lay on the ground cold, scared and in pain. To my surprise Lye ran off, which upset me even more as she was wearing her hearing dog coat and I thought she might get stolen. After a few minutes I looked up and saw my beloved dog running back to me with a man following close behind her. He told me she had gone to the main street and grabbed him by the trouser leg. He saw her coat and realised she must be telling him something so he followed her. It turned out that he was a nurse, so Lye picked well!”
On another occasion Nicola and her daughters were asleep in bed, Nicola having taken her hearing aids out. Soon after, she was woken by Lye scrabbling at her chest. At first she thought she might want the toilet so went to get out of bed but Lye pulled her back down and would not let her move. This was very strange behaviour for Lye, and it was enough to alert Nicola to the fact that something was wrong so she put in her hearing aids. Immediately she heard noises downstairs and realised there were intruders in her house. “I panicked and didn’t know what to do,” she says, “but Lye just looked at me and told me in her own way that she would not let any harm come to me or my girls. She then made enough noise to scare the burglars off.”
Lye has progressed from being a much-loved pet dog to being an invaluable lifeline, as Nicola sums up: “Lye is my constant and faithful companion, and a very special dog. She is my ears and she has given me back my confidence and courage.”