Congratulations to Sandie!

Sandie is a hearing dog!

Your sponsor pup has done it! Sandie’s superb skills and loveable nature are now supporting her deaf partner, Barbara, to reconnect with life.

Barbara shared, “I wanted a companion who understands my deafness to help me with my day-to-day life. Now I have Sandie, I feel my life is complete.”

What an incredible journey... from a tiny puppy into a life-changing hearing dog!

Barbara’s hearing issues began when she was 19 years old. “I found out I had otosclerosis* and a mixture of issues going on. First, the hospital said it could be temporary, but after six months they told me it would only get worse. I was given hearing aids*. I didn’t want anyone to know, so I didn’t wear them at first, but in the end I had no choice.

“I had to leave my hairdressing job as I was struggling to hear people with the hairdryers on. I felt isolated and didn’t have much support.”

*Otosclerosis – When a tiny bone inside the ear joins with other parts of the ear, affecting a person’s hearing.

*Hearing aids – A small electronic device that fits onto the ear and can help someone to hear better.

*Cochlear implant – A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted electronic device that provides a sense of sound to a person who has a severe or profound hearing loss. It turns sounds into electrical signals that travel through a part of the ear called the cochlea, and through the auditory nerve to the brain. The deaf person’s brain then interprets these signals as sound.

A bond as strong as superglue

Since then, Barbara had a cochlear implant* fitted. However, her deafness continued to restrict her social life in many ways. Now, sweet Sandie is supporting her to make connections every day.

Sandie and Barbara have also formed their own incredibly special bond: “The companionship and love that she shows constantly is unbelievable. I feel I have found my soulmate.”

“After I got Sandie it was good to have bonding time together and we played lots of games. When I mentioned this to my husband, he said, ‘Bonding? It’s more like you’re superglued together!’”

Above right: Sandie loves snoozing in the garden with Barbara

Super Sandie’s soundwork skills

Sandie flew through her soundwork training, passing with flying colours. So, it’s not surprising that she quickly learned all the important sounds in her new home, and alerted Barbara to them straightaway: “Sandie’s soundwork is absolutely spot on. The opportunities that Sandie has brought to my home and social life are amazing. She is such a lovely young lady.”

Above left: Sandie will alert Barbara when the cooker timer goes off

Above middle: The nose ‘nudge’ is Sandie’s way of signaling that she has heard a sound

Above right: When Sandie hears the alarm clock, she has been trained to gently jump up on the bed... what an adorable way to be woken up!

Your sponsorship has changed a life

“If Sandie’s sponsors were in the room right now, I would say to them, ‘This is what you have created.’”

Thanks to your sponsorship, Barbara’s life has been transformed by our gorgeous girl, Sandie. It would be wonderful if you’d consider sponsoring another puppy but, whatever you decide, thank you for sponsoring Sandie.

Sandie has settled in perfectly with her favourite dinosaur toy