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Hearing Dogs for Deaf People |
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earing Dogs for Deaf People is a national charity whose aim is to offer greater independence, confidence and security to deaf people by providing dogs trained to alert them to chosen everyday sounds.
75%
of dogs selected for training come from rescue centres or are unwanted pets.
They are trained to alert by touch, using a paw to gain attention and lead their
owner back to the sound source. For sounds such as the smoke and fire alarm the
dogs will lay down to indicate danger.
To date over 1000 hearing dogs have been placed with severely and profoundly deaf people around the UK. Hearing Dogs receives no government funding, relying solely on public donations to fund the selection, training, placement and aftercare of each of these dogs.
WESTMINSTER WAGS
Dandy and Werther say it with tails
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Assistance dogs Dandy and Werther and their owners Wendy Osman from Welling, Kent and Jeanette Joynson from West London, took starring roles at Westminster on March 3rd 2004 when they represented the charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People at an event held at the House Of Lords to demonstrate the beneficial effect that animals have on human lives. Organised by the National Office for Animal Health (NOAH), the event drew interest from a cross-section of MPs and Peers. “I am extremely pleased that this event has highlighted the work of devoted animal companions,” commented NOAH Chief Executive Phil Sketchley. “It has also underlined our communal responsibility to provide them with proper care and protection with regular vaccination and good preventive healthcare.” Dandy and Werther were amongst several dogs and a pony that attended the event to represent the many thousands of animals across the country that help their human owners by providing companionship and practical assistance. Dandy is a four-year old mongrel who was selected from Battersea Dogs Home in November 2000 when he was six months old. He is able to help Wendy who works as a Disability Employment Adviser and is profoundly deaf, by alerting her to everyday household sounds such as telephones, doorbells, cooker timer and alarm clock. He can also recognise emergency sounds such as a smoke alarm and a fire bell. Werther, a Lhasa Apso, helps his retired owner Jeanette with similar tasks. Also profoundly deaf, Jeanette finds Wether’s assistance invaluable. “What can I say about Werther?” she said. “What would I do without him? He is my true companion, I’m never on my own and I feel safe with him by my side.” Wendy and Jeanette spoke on behalf of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People at the event at the House of Lords. They were able to speak to MPs and Peers and show them first hand how much practical help and companionship they gain from their dogs. ENDS For further information please contact: Jenny Moir, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, Tel: 01844 348108 or Gail Lacey, Kendalls PR, Tel: 01394 610022 |
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