Update - Recent Placements

Ginger - Double Duty

Danielle R., North Carolina, started losing her hearing at age five, and the loss progressed to the point where she applied for and received her first Hearing Dog Chuckie years ago. Chuckie passed away last year, and Danielle knew she needed another Hearing Dog. Recently we called Danielle and told her we had an extra special dog for her. Ginger, a beautiful Black Lab, was given to us by her previous owner who could no longer care for her. Ginger went through all the normal evaluations and training to be an Autism Assistance Dog, but we didn’t find the right place for her with a family with a child with autism. However, our Training Department did find the absolutely perfect match for Ginger with Danielle because Danielle is a physician and teacher who works with children with autism. We just had to add to Ginger’s training and also teach her to be a Hearing Dog. Once the sound alert skills were Ginger’s abilities, she and her trainer traveled to Danielle’s home. From the second she arrived, Ginger seemed to know that this was her new home. She was so relaxed and happy. They began practicing various sounds, and Ginger worked perfectly. She is alerting Danielle to the door knock, name call, oven timer, smoke alarm, telephone, and alarm clock. In addition, Ginger is using her Autism Assistance Dog skills when she accompanies Danielle to her office and classroom. During the placement week, one of her patients, a boy with autism, needed to have his ears checked. With Ginger there, he actually came over and calmly let Danielle examine his ears. This was a real milestone in this boy’s behavior. So, Ginger is alerting Danielle to all the sounds around her, and she is also having a dramatic effect on the actions and behavior of Danielle’s patients and students who have autism.

Update - Recent Placements

Ryan D., New Jersey, recently lost his first Hearing Dog, Digger O’ Doyle, to old age, and he knew he needed another dog to help him with sound awareness and independence. He is now an accountant and ready to move out on his own, and a Hearing Dog would be a big help with this. Deaf since birth, Ryan knew how much Digger had helped him through his final high school years and into early adulthood, and he wanted to continue having the benefits of a dog trained to alert him to things happening around him. The right dog for Ryan came along sooner than expected. Pippy, a four year old, female, Papillion cross had been placed a couple of years ago with a woman in Texas. Recently the woman developed health problems that made it impossible for her to keep Pippy, so Pippy was returned to us. After evaluation and some refresher training, Pippy was ready to go again, and Ryan was the right applicant for Pippy. Pippy and her trainer arrived at Ryan’s home, and she quickly learned that Ryan was the one she needed to alert out of the five people living in the home. Both Ryan and Pippy grew in confidence every time she alerted him to a sound. Ryan was so happy to again be aware of what was happening around him. Ryan and Pippy are becoming a real team. Pippy is enjoying the love and care she is receiving, and Ryan loves his new partner and the help she is providing.