Eastcott Vets chosen charity for 2017 - Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
Do you love dogs and are you looking for a new challenge? Do you want to challenge yourself? Why not contact Hearing Dogs? There are many volunteering roles. You could look after their life-changing hearing dog puppies, walk a Hearing Dog, volunteer at their training centres, local events or have your own fundraising event. Visit the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People website for more information.
Read more about Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a world-leader in training dogs to alert deaf recipients to important sounds and danger signals, providing life-changing levels of independence, confidence and companionship. Our dogs also help reduce the feelings of isolation and loneliness that deafness can bring.
Imagine you are deaf. You can’t hear your alarm clock. You can’t hear your text messages. You miss out on social interactions. That’s what life is like for deaf people, and it can be very isolating. A hearing dog can make a big difference. A big part of a hearing dog’s job is to alert their deaf recipient to sounds they would otherwise miss. Simple sounds we take for granted like the doorbell, alarm clock and even danger signals like the fire alarm. Being aware of these – thanks to a hearing dog – makes a real difference in deaf people’s lives. One of those people is local Swindon recipient, Linda, whose story she has kindly shared:
“The past year and a half has been full of change and challenges for me. I’ve taken up public speaking, seen my confidence soar, found new pleasures in my daily life – and it’s all down to a lovely, good-natured yellow Labrador called Fidget.
I’ve had severe hearing loss since childhood and have always been rather shy, quiet and not very confident. Sometimes everyday life brings on a feeling of total exhaustion caused by having to concentrate so hard to understand people. But that all began to change the moment Fidget arrived on our doorstep, she has made a huge difference to my life. She is my ears, my shadow, my guide, my companion, and my support when I am on my own with her. She is such a sweet soul and is absolutely brilliant at alerting me to sounds I cannot hear such as the doorbell, cooker timer, smoke alarm, even mobile text tones. Her favourite alert is the alarm clock in the mornings, it being the first sound of the day and it means a walk, breakfast and most importantly a big cuddle.
Fidget comes into work with me every day and lies down beside my desk snoozing away, dreaming about chasing rabbits. We go out for a walk during the lunch period where she’s on the lookout for squirrels and other doggies to play with. I have certainly grown in confidence since Fidget came along, it’s like she filled a hole in my jigsaw, and I can finally relax and let her be my ears on the sounds that I cannot hear.
I am very grateful to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and as a gesture of appreciation, my husband David and I help out with local fundraising and community events. With the breeding, training and lifelong care of a single dog costing £40,000, encouraging donations is crucial if more people are to benefit as I have.”
Without the support of the general public, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People would not exist. Our charity survives on the donations and generosity of others. Without this, our dogs would not be out there changing the lives of people like Linda. If you would like to help support our charity, please email
