Volunteers are needed in Darlington to train hearing dogs to help deaf people live an easier and more fulfilling life.
Hearing Dogs For Deaf People trains dogs to help people, from assisting with practical tasks, such as alerting their owner to a fire alarm, as well as providing emotional support and comfort.
As deafness can be a very isolating disability, a hearing dog provides love and companionship.
This is really important as many of the deaf people who come to Hearing Dogs For Deaf People for help have felt lonely and isolated.
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The clever canines help deaf children and adults to leave this loneliness behind and reconnect with life.
Michael Douglas, North East training manager, told The Northern Echo: “We’re needing volunteers to train hearing dogs in Darlington
“It’s really important that volunteers either don’t work or work part-time because they need to be able to devote time to training.
“There is a lot of work involved and our volunteer trainers can get quite attached to the dog they’re training but of course they know that the reason they’re doing this is because these dogs provides a real lifeline for deaf people.”
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Four breeds are used by the charity; cocker spaniels, Labradors, cockapoos, and miniature poodles, with puppies having to pass early-years training.
The majority of training is done remotely, which means it’s easier for people to work training around their schedules.
Volunteers are needed throughout the region, and Darlington in particular.
The cost to train and support each hearing dog throughout their lifetime is £40,000, so the charity relies heavily on supporters to help it change lives.
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Criteria for volunteer puppy trainers includes:
- A loving home with a secure garden.
- Access to a computer and video calling facilities are essential for online home checks and virtual dog-training classes.
- Adequate time to dedicate to training a young dog on a daily basis. The charity cannot consider an application if you work full time, even if you work from home.
- Access to a vehicle for training and emergency purposes.
- Volunteers who are over 18 and live in one of the charity’s catchment areas.
For more information on how to volunteer as a puppy trainer, visit: hearingdogs.org.uk
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