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
September 2009
Name: Tiffin Breed: Mongrel
Tiffin started life as a stray in the Republic of Ireland, and was seven months old when she came to the attention of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. She was brought over to England to begin her socialising and training to be a hearing dog . In November 2006 she went to live with severely deaf Joan Knibbs in Northamptonshire.
Joan has been progressively losing her hearing since 1961 but for years she coped with the help of her husband. It was only when he sadly died that she started to find life difficult. "It was not until I was once more on my own," she says, "when all the preparations and visitors who had arrived for the funeral had gone, that I found I had been buoyed up with the love and help of my family. They had their own grief to battle with, and I drifted into the slough of despondency. Dennis had been another pair of ears for me when in need, and my confidence had taken a setback without him. After thinking about it for a few months, I came to the conclusion that a hearing dog would be the answer to my prayers."
Following a visit to Hearing Dogs' southern training centre, Joan signed up for a hearing dog and came home full of happiness. After an 18 month wait, she finally received a photo of Tiffin. "When I saw her appealing face and big ears I felt full of emotion; I fell in love with her there and then. She eventually came home with me on my birthday - what a lovely present!"
Joan has found that she is so much more relaxed with Tiffin around. "I didn't realise just how much I used to rely on my husband to tell me about sounds. Now I have Tiffin, the tension has eased. She encourages me to go for long walks, which I never felt inclined to do before. We are getting to be known in the community; we have been to social gatherings and to church together."
As Joan lives on her own, it is hard for her to practise the doorbell, but fortunately her postman has offered to help. Tiffin loves the sound, and happily sits quietly in the hall as Joan opens the front door. She is not quite so well-behaved in the garden though, as she has a keen interest in gardening! Joan explains: "My lawn is no longer my pride, as Tiffin loves to bury things. That is probably where my shed keys have gone!
"Tiffin follows me everywhere. She will put her little face on my knee, and look up to me with adoring, bright eyes. Although she wasn't trained to the alarm clock, she does jump on my bed to tell me it is time to get up. It took her a little bit longer to get the telephone response just right, but one day when I was upstairs washing my hair, a little body came gently scrabbling at my leg, then took me down to the telephone beautifully. I cannot describe such joy."
In addition to the regular sounds, Tiffin has helped Joan in other ways. "Tiffin has surprised me in many ways. On one occasion she has told me that a car is coming from behind and has ushered me onto the verge.
"Tiffin's companionship is precious to me, and I love her to bits. There is no dwelling on my own thoughts in lonely hours now that I have my sweet little hearing dog."