With Daisy’s help, Jill is confident and outgoing again

Daisy made it!

Daisy is a hearing dog! Hurray!

Today she is helping Jill. Her deafness meant she found life very hard before her first hearing dog Bounty came along. Now, with Daisy’s help, she is confident and outgoing again, ready to take on the world.

A difficult diagnosis

“In 1998, I was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma – a growth around the auditory nerve. Fortunately it could be removed, but I became deaf in that ear.

“Shortly after, my hearing ear lost high-pitched sounds. Nobody knows why. A hearing aid didn’t help, and I found myself missing sounds – the doorbell, phone, alarm clock, smoke alarm, and so on.

“The doorbell was a regular problem: people would say they had been ringing and ringing, and get annoyed at me for not answering.

“I felt so frustrated. New or unfamiliar situations became very stressful, especially if I had to ask someone a question or for directions. Then, in a lip-reading class, I found out about Hearing Dogs – and my first dog Bounty bounded into my life.”

Beautiful Bounty

“Bounty arrived ready to help me from day one, alerting me to all those sounds I couldn’t hear.

“We went everywhere together. I do hairdressing in elderly people’s homes. They adored Bounty too. She always behaved so beautifully.

“Bounty completely changed how people treated me. Instead of dismissive or angry, they would see her burgundy coat and be really interested in her. I was so proud telling them how she helped me.

“When I had to have Bounty put to sleep, I was devastated. We loved each other so very much. I also realised how much she supported me practically: it had just become second nature to accept her help.”

Confident Daisy

“Hearing Dogs for Deaf People places great priority on providing a new hearing dog – what they call a ‘successor’ dog.

“So, on a lovely summer’s day, Daisy arrived. She walked in with such confidence. Now, I love her dearly: she is a sweet, sociable, affectionate, loving little dog.

“She helps with all the sounds Bounty did. However, my husband now has Multiple Sclerosis, with limited mobility, so she’s also been taught to help out if he needs me. He says ‘Fetch Jill’ and she finds me, gives me a nose nudge, and leads me back to him. It provides peace of mind, every day.

“I have met lovely people walking with Daisy. One lady said it was very nice of the Charity to give you a dog to match your hair colour! It still makes me smile.”

A future together

“With Daisy I feel complete. She makes everything much less stressful, whether we’re out travelling, shopping, working, or just day-to-day home life. Her confidence has rubbed off on me. With Daisy, I can cope with anything.

“I was unlucky to have a tumour, but I feel extremely privileged and lucky to have found Hearing Dogs. I have so much gratitude and respect for the kind sponsors who helped her through training.”

We are delighted, and we hope you are too. Daisy and Jill seem to have been meant for each other. This would never have happened without your kindness.

And so ends Daisy’s journey. From all of us… thank you.