Issue 53 SPRING 2016 £1.75 when sold The magazine from Hearing Dogs for Deaf People Spread the word Find out why it’s good to talk PLUS How Indie learned to be a hearing dog The Great British Dog Walk 2016 What to do if your dog starts to go deaf I’ve met “many adorable“ dogs in my “This little dog transformed line of work our lives” Malcolm & Anne Angellica Bell on learning to sign and launch our Hope for her ideal dog-walking companion Hearing Dogs Appeal Spring 201622 | In this issue… 4 10 Regulars 30 4 | A dog’s life Welcome! The latest news including an We’ve put together a feature-packed issue update on the Elsie Appeal of Favour full of inspiring stories and 16 | Get involved great ideas for how you can get involved Could you help to train a puppy? with Hearing Dogs. In this issue we look 18 | You and your dog Photo: Paul Wilkinson at the telltale signs that your dog might be How to communicate with your dog losing his hearing (p28), and ways to keep communicating if he if he starts to lose his hearing does go deaf (p18). Turn to page 16 to find out if you could train to 2 6 | Get involved locally be a puppy socialiser, or help us spread the word by becoming a Find out how you can spread the word registered speaker (p26). Spring is just around 28 | Ask the experts the corner, so have a look at our Great How to tell if your dog is losing his hearing and what to do about it British Dog Walk round-up on page 24 to find out how to take part. Finally, it’s our 30 | Paws for coffee Awards issue and on pages 10–13 you can Angellica Bell chats with Favour meet our inspirational winners – both human and canine. Enjoy! Features Gill Lacey Editor 24 08 | Confi dence boost How Tegan transformed Anne’s life Next issue Look out for 10 | Take a bow wow! Favour magazine the next issue Celebrating incredible partnerships is named after in autumn Hearing Dogs’ very first dog Favour. 2016 14 | Puppy sponsorship Find out how Labrador Indie has Hearing Dogs for Deaf People Royal Patron Useful contact details turned Jo’s life around The Grange, Wycombe Road, HRH The Princess Royal (voice and minicom): Saunderton, Princes Risborough Fundraising Registered charity in England and 20 | Acoustic neuroma HP27 9NS 01844 348148 A new study looks at the reasons why Wales no. 293358 and Scotland Volunteering T 01844 348100 (voice & minicom) no. SC040486 these tumours can lead to hearing loss F 01844 348101 01844 348100 E [email protected] Member of UK Council on Media enquiries 01844 348137 22 | Gifts in Wills www.hearingdogs.org.uk Deafness, Assistance Dogs (UK), One couple explains why they wanted Cover photo of Angellica Bell Assistance Dogs Europe and to leave a gift to the Charity in their Wills by Paul Wilkinson Assistance Dogs International Articles and features printed in Favour are not necessarily the views of the Charity but are the views expressed by the writers. 23 | Kids corner We welcome your comments. Make a bandana for your dog Advertisements Hearing Dogs for Deaf People cannot be liable to any person for loss or damage incurred or suffered as a result of his/her accepting or offering to accept goods or services contained in any advertisement reproduced inFavour . Readers should make appropriate enquiries before incurring any expense or contractual obligation. 24 | The Great British Dog Walk Produced by 90 Walcot Street, Bath, BA2 5BG. www.jppublishing.co.uk How to get involved in 2016 3 www.hearingdogs.org.uk Spring 2016 FAVOUR NewsA Views dog Updates ’Wes sniff outlife the stories that matter to you… LISTENING PROJECT Back to school Do deaf children learn better when there’s a dog in the classroom? The Listening Dog Project aims to fi nd out… Hearing dog Lily spent three months in the classroom Lily with some of the children from the reading class and project leaders Ambassador hearing dog Lily spent launched the pilot project last and a mainstream school with a three months in the classroom with year with the help of two charity deaf unit, the team is measuring 12 children learning to read at a volunteers, says: “Evaluation of this the motivation and engagement of primary school in Doncaster. preliminary project was very pupils over a longer period of time The children all had severe encouraging, suggesting that the and in different learning situations. or profound hearing loss and presence of a hearing dog has There will be some had special needs due to significant potential to improve a more on The dyslexia, attention deficit deaf child’s learning experience. Listening Dog disorder or learning difficulties. “The improvements were Project in The Listening Dog Project particularly marked for a future issues wanted to examine whether pupils subgroup of children who had the of Favour. with hearing loss would be more most complex and significant motivated by the presence of a educational challenges.” validated dog and handler. The latest phase of the project Angie Platten, head of Hearing started in January. Working in Dogs partnership services, who collaboration with a deaf school “This project suggests the presence of a hearing dog has significant potential” 4 FAVOUR Spring 2016 www.hearingdogs.org.uk News Bond: “You have my promise…” Diary dates SUPPORTER PROMISE MARCH TO JUNE Great British Dog Walk We promise Join us on a Great British Dog Walk near you – see page 24 9 APRIL that we won’t Hearing Dogs Spring Open Day The Grange, Bucks let you down 4–10 MAY Deaf Awareness Week HEARING DOGS for Volunteer Events throughout the UK Deaf People is launching chairman of 11 SEPTEMBER a Supporter Promise Hearing Dogs Hearing Dogs Late Summer that sets out clearly our Faith Clark Show promise to you and says: “Your The Grange, Bucks what you can expect support is vital. 19 & 20 NOVEMBER from us in terms of Your generosity Hearing Dogs our values and how and kindness Christmas Market we operate. has allowed The Grange, Bucks Our relationship with us to help you, our supporters, is thousands of For details see: www.hearingdogs.org.uk/ critical to the work we deaf adults and impact with the funds events or call Melanie Tyrer do. We’ve included children live more fulfilled that you entrust to us. on 01844 348181 a copy of our Supporter and independent lives. “With some charities Promise with this issue “Every week 1,750 receiving bad press for of Favour magazine, volunteers around the poor practices, we FUNDRAISING alongside a ‘keepsafe’ country give us their time want each and every poster pin-up of our because they believe in experience with Hearing STICK WITH IT! beautiful hearing dog what we do. We want Dogs to be enriching Thank you for recycling your Bond, so that you can people like you to go on and positive. This is used stamps. The total raised reference it any time. supporting us year after where our Supporter from stamp donations in 2015 Our Supporter year because you know Promise comes in.” reached £11,848.49! This has Promise is also live on our that we consistently and www.hearingdogs.org.uk/ helped us train more dogs like supporter-promise little Penny to be hearing dogs. website for all to read. transparently make an It’s easy to do… ORDER We can send you 1 boxes or envelopes TRIBUTE TRIM Stamps should have 2 a paper border about 1cm wide IN MEMORY OF BEN SORT Take out any LOUISE AND JEREMY Pocock lost their son Ben 3 preprinted postage marks when flight MH17 was shot down over the Ukraine or labels, they add weight in July 2014. but we can’t claim Ben was studying International Business at anything back Loughborough University and was on his way to PACK The trick is to get complete a study abroad programme at the 4 as many stamps in without University of Western Australia in Perth. it bursting Louise and Jeremy, who are both deaf, had lost ENJOY Recycle knowing their hearing dog the previous year and Ben’s 5 the impact you are making university friends, Jamie, Will and David, wanted to on a deaf person’s life raise money for Hearing Dogs in Ben’s memory. Every little helps and they all Jamie explains: “Without dwelling on the sadness add up to so much. Email of the situation, it’s important for us to focus on how jessica.grant@hearingdogs. truly inspirational Ben’s parents have been. org.uk or call 01844 348135 “Louise has since been partnered with her new hearing dog, Tapper, who has proved to be an Penny gets stuck into enormous support. We’ve managed to raise over stamp recycling £5,500 so far, but we’re aiming for £10,000 so we can name a hearing dog in memory of Ben.” To support their fundraising go to: www. justgiving.com/ben-pocock-LDNtriathlon 5 www.hearingdogs.org.uk Spring 2016 FAVOUR News Newly retired Spotty Sara Head enjoys FUNDRAISING relaxes in the sunshine some time out with Spotty Boost for Elsie Appeal REMEMBER ELSIE, the little pup with big potential? In the last issue of Favour we told you that she was doing really well, but had some issues we needed to address. We’re very happy to tell you that the Elsie Appeal has now reached £22,275 and thanks to your generosity, and plenty of time and treats from her trainer Lou, Elsie is now much better at giving up Kermit, her favourite green ball toy.