Testimonials
Roy Rood and hearing dog Tilly
Spaniel cross Tilly had a dreadful start in life. She was cruelly dumped and left to die in Ireland when she was just a puppy. Fortunately, some kind people rescued her along with her brothers and sisters. They knew The Mayhew Animal Home was saving pups from abandonment and destruction in Ireland, so arranged for her to be picked up by The Mayhew in the hope that she would find a new life in England.
Jill Roach and hearing dog Bumble
I have been suffering from hearing loss since a young girl. I never seemed to have many problems though and managed to cope well at school. My early 20’s saw significant changes. The hearing loss became more profound and I had countless drop attacks as a result of acute vertigo type symptoms. After more operations than I care to have counted, it was decided that the only way to help me was further surgery which left me with severe deafness.
Tracey Lewis and hearing dog Budgie
"I'm in my early 30s now and have been profoundly deaf since birth. In May 2002 my life changed completely owing to the arrival of a tiny mongrel called Budgie..."
Mel Smith and hearing dog Keri
"My beautiful clever devoted little hearing dog Keri has not only changed my life completely, she has actually given me back my life: adding to it qualities and new dimensions which never existed before. Let me first set the scene with regards to how life was for me before Keri’s arrival on 26 March 2001... "
Jean Lawrence and hearing dog Scampi
"I applied for a hearing dog in 1995 because I didn't want to depend on others any more, and found that flashing lights aggravated my balance problems caused by Menieres Disease. Scampi, a tri-coloured rescue mongrel from the Blue Cross, came home with me in August 1996 - and we have been inseperable ever since!"
Emily Bush and hearing dog Cassy
"Profound deafness and its accompanying silence became my life companion over 22 years ago. I was a young woman with two small children who had to adapt to their mum changing from a hearing person to a deaf one. Along with all other indoor and outdoor sounds, I lost my beloved music. I lost all my friends, my social life and my ability to mix with people. I was also unable to access any group activities of any description. I lost my job as I was seen as a liability."
Rob Currington and hearing dog Scotch
“Scotch is a four and a half year old Spaniel cross with the most beautiful
brown eyes that seem to appeal to everybody she meets - she’s a real
flirt!
She is a wonderful companion and has changed my life completely as I live
alone. She has given me confidence in myself. We go out fundraising for Hearing
Dogs, and do voluntary work together. She is so talented and I could not be
without her."
Mags Adams-Aston and hearing dog Taz
"My best friend, five year old Taz, has now been with me since December 1999. How time flies! Taz was christened Taz because when he was a puppy belonging to a family with two toddlers, he kept running in circles like the cartoon character Taz, the Tasmanian Devil. As the wife returned to work full-time the family could no longer keep him and they felt it was best to hand six month old Taz over to the dogs’ home in Cardiff in the hope of him finding a better home. Two weeks later, Hearing Dogs picked him as he has a lovely temperament. He went through soundwork training and it was at the end of November 1999 that I met Taz for the first time at Lewknor."
Glen Tallett and hearing dog Milly
"Milly’s obvious desire to be needed and loved made her exceptionally sensitive and responsive to my needs and her intelligence was soon obvious when Jackie her trainer began training her to trot by my electric wheelchair without endangering herself or me. I now have an electric scooter; this would be too fast for Milly to run alongside me so I bought one especially for its wide foot-platform, which allows Milly to sit under my knees when taking her to the shops or the park."
Barbara Bird and hearing dog Ceri
"I have been severely deaf for the last thirty years. After my husband died I went through a period of feeling 'like a ship without a sail'. I was missing so many attempts by people to contact me by phone or at the door, and burnt food became my speciality. That is before I was given my hearing dog, Ceri. These days, her little face is the first thing I see in the morning. She jumps up to wake me when she hears the alarm - so much nicer than the vibrating clock under the pillow! Throughout the day, she gives me the freedom to do whatever I want. No more sitting on tenterhooks near the phone, not daring to go into the garden 'just in case'. Ceri is my helpmate, my friend, my protector - and she's fun! I never envisaged how big a difference she would make to my life."
Mike Sullivan and hearing dog Flint
"When I first met Flint, my hearing dog, it was love at first sight. We bonded straight away. Now, she alerts me to everyday sounds, gets me up in the morning and accompanies me to the doctor, dentist, hospital, supermarket, library, restaurants - in fact, everywhere I go. People see her burgundy coat and realise I am deaf - and then want to ask all about her and what she does for me. Deafness is an invisible disability and I felt isolated before I had Flint. Now I have a wonderful companion and assistant to take me out into the world. My life has changed immensely since Flint has been here."
