"Peach makes me feel safe"

Here’s Joanne’s story in her own words:

Although I was given hearing aids as a child, they were enormous in those days and I was so self-conscious that I didn't wear them. At school, I just got by, missing out on a lot without really realising it.

At secondary school, I was a typical teenager and still refused to wear my hearing aids, but I was lucky enough to go to a private school with smaller class sizes, which really helped.

When I got married and had children, my family effectively became my ‘ears’. They’d tell me if someone was at the front door or if the cooker timer went off. Someone was always there. And if I went out to the shops, they were usually with me.

It was only after my divorce and my children had grown up and left home that I suddenly realised how much I’d been missing. That’s when I started to lose confidence. Being on my own in the house, particularly at night, made me feel very, very anxious. At the same time, I didn’t have the confidence to go out on my own.

In the end, I started withdrawing. I don't even think it was a conscious decision – it just happened. And that wasn’t me - I'm an outgoing person. I didn't like how my life was going.

Then, one day, I saw somebody out with their hearing dog. I hadn't even realised they existed! I looked into it and thought a hearing dog would be perfect for me, so I applied.

When I’m at home, Peach just makes me feel safe. She tells me if the smoke alarm goes off and I never miss people at the front door now. Even though I’m deaf, I still hear sounds, I just can’t identify them. Now I know that if Peach doesn’t alert me, it's nothing to worry about.

When I’m out and about, she goes pretty much everywhere with me. She's a bit of a famous doggy around here. I go out for walk in the evening now, which is something I’d never have done before on my own. Just having her with me gives me more confidence. It’s like being out with your best friend.

I don’t hesitate to go out with the girls now to restaurants, pubs and for coffees. I will also now get a train and go into Liverpool – something I would never have done without her.

I work for a further and higher education college, delivering training to apprentices in the NHS who are just starting their career in business administration and management. I spend most of my time in hospitals or GP surgeries and Peach is very much part of team. In fact, she has second job – stress management (or free cuddles) for NHS staff!

Before I had Peach, I found classroom teaching very difficult. Now, people see her Hearing Dogs jacket and know straight away that I have hearing difficulties.

The students interact with her, which breaks down barriers and that helps me to feel more comfortable when I’m teaching. She also helps students I teach who have learning difficulties and disabilities because, seeing her, prompts them to chat to me.

She's such a friendly, warm little dog, with the sweetest nature. She loves attention and cuddles, and gets on like a house on fire with her best friend, my cat Ronnie.

When I think back to what I thought having a hearing dog would do for me, Peach has lived up to – and surpassed – all my expectations and beyond. I wouldn’t be without her.