How do you hear a timer or a fire alarm if you’re totally deaf? Maybe your dog can do it for you:
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People NZ.
Elvis is Northland’s first official hearing dog and alerts Leanne Platjes to important noises like alarms or people knocking at the door.
Leanne, who is almost 100 percent deaf, says Elvis gives her confidence, companionship and security.
…Elvis responds to sounds like someone at the door or timers by pawing Leanne on the leg.
When she asks
where is it?he leads her to the source of the noise.
[Via : Elvis is no hound dog | Stuff.co.nz.]
What is a Hearing Dog?
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People NZ is a charitable trust which rescues young dogs of any breed and trains them to be hearing dogs:
… most Hearing Dogs are rescued from Animal Rescue Centres as pups or young dogs. …
Fortunately pedigree isn’t important — but being friendly, intelligent and responsive to sounds is. Which is why Hearing Dogs come in all shapes and sizes and almost every breed and cross-breed you could think of.
[Via : What is a Hearing Dog - Hearing Dogs.]
Training costs $11,500 for each dog, which is then matched to a deaf person for free.
The dogs are approved by the government to go anywhere with their deaf owner.
