Hearing Ear Dogs:
Also see: Hearing Dogs
Also see: Animal Signing: Canine Sign Language
Submitted by: Alison Squires
3/6/05Hearing Ear Dogs
Most people give a lot of their attention to Seeing Eye dogs, trained pets that can see for their blind master. But has anyone heard of a hearing ear dog? Not many, but they exist as well. These animals are just as important as Seeing Eye dogs except they help with a different type of disability. These dogs can hear things their owner cannot, and thus are just as needed and save lives everyday.
This service was started back in the 1970’s by people who really cared to help pull deaf people out of their isolation. During 1981, a man named Bruce Fogle visited training centers in the United States. Eventually a plan was devised with financial commitments from Pro-Dogs, an animal Charity; Pedigree Pet foods; the Daily Mail, a national newspaper; "Pebble Mill at One", a television program; and Mutual of New York, an American Insurance Company involved in funding the American Hearing Dog Scheme. Many thought it was a good service to put their money toward, and they were right. A place was offered at Forest Glade Kennels in Chinnor, Oxfordshire. The dogs could be kept here until they were fully trained. There were also many vets who promised vaccines and medicines. The British Veterinary Association advised its members to treat these dogs as they do guide dogs and to provide twice yearly free examinations. In 1982, the news was released to the public, and the first demonstration dog was chosen. His name was Favour, and he had been one of the many dogs taken from the kennel for this service. Soon a place was built for the first 4 official training dogs to be kept.
Hearing Ear dogs main job is to make sure that their owner is safe. They are trained to know the differences between sounds like the phone, the door bell, alarm clocks, and fire alarms. When these things are going off, the dog will go and sit in a certain place, so that the owner can determine what it is that is making the noise.
Hearing Ear dogs are very important to society and all the deaf people who use them. May God bless the people who trained these animals to do their special job.References:
http://www.dogsforthedeaf.org/