! p U n e t s i L AUTUMN - 2015 • ISSUE 39 Autumn… With the weather turning cooler and the trees changing to amber, our staff at the Training Centre are busy with new puppies and dogs in various stages of their training. My Girl Zoe After my third dog died, my daughters said “Mum, the next dog has to be smaller” (after two Pointers and a Weimaraner). I don’t like small yappy dogs, so I procrastinated. Then I discovered Hearing Dogs NZ. I read their newsletter and contacted them to make enquiries. I wanted a female, medium sized, shorthaired and I thought a brown dog would be nice for a change. At that time I led a busy life working for Deaf Aotearoa, with people in and out of the office as well as clients coming to my bookbinding workshop, so a calm adaptable dog was needed. I filled in the forms and waited hopefully. Months went by then Hearing Dogs contacted me to say they had a dog that might be suitable. I flew to New Plymouth and met Zoe – female, medium sized, shorthaired boxer x Staffy, Special Th an k s brown, absolutely to specs! At 2 years old she was older than most dogs for placement, quite boisterous so needed a firm hand and an experienced owner, but very good on her working commands. We fell in love. I took Zoe home to Nelson and she settled in, alerting me to all the usual things except the phone which I was too deaf to use. The local firemen who replaced the smoke alarm batteries yearly, were always so impressed with her immediate response to the smoke alarm! Living alone I felt SO much safer with Zoe. She came to work with me and was petted by all. She flew calmly in planes and enjoyed train and boat trips. She went to schools, kindergartens and meetings where I was asked to talk about deafness and Hearing Dogs and was patient with the endless petting. She was certainly a great advertisement for Hearing Dogs. The only thing she couldn’t cope with was fireworks. Guy Fawkes night is still an ordeal for both of us. Now I am retired we live in Christchurch. Zoe’s life is quieter, but she still does her doorbell and oven timer alerts, ignores dropped food in cafes and responds to a different smoke alarm from the one she was trained to. People notice her yellow jacket and ask about her, which is my cue to describe Hearing Dogs and what they do. She is 10 now, though you wouldn’t believe it to see her chasing my partner’s dog round the lawn, but is still my dearest companion. Christine Carr Mazda MX5 Club Rally The national Mazda MX5 Club Rally held a successful quiz night fundraising event on the 7th of March. Taranaki Regional Coordinators of the rally, Lesley and Jock Sutherland, presented public speaker and Hearing Dogs volunteer Jim Shepherd with $1,000.70 from money raised during the event. Jim Shepherd and Hearing Dog Recipient Scotty Rodgers attended the evening and gave an informative talk on Hearing Dogs NZ. A big thanks to our friends at the national Mazda MX5 Club. Back row from left: Jim Shepherd, Jock Sutherland. Front Row: Scotty Rodgers with Ben, Lesley Sutherland with Ruby (demonstration dog in training). Our mission is to enhance the independence and well-being of Deaf and Hearing Impaired New Zealanders through the provision of specially trained Hearing Dogs to internationally recognised standards. University Challenge Helen Ware has a very busy life indeed with 2 children, studying at university, working part time, juggling commitments and making regular appearances as a public speaker for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People NZ. Hearing Dog Abbey, a Cavalier Shih Tzu cross, has been in Helen’s life for 2 years now and Helen couldn’t imagine life without her. “Abbey gave me the confidence I needed to take the plunge and go to university to get my degree.” Helen is on her way to gaining her Bachelor of Business, majoring in Accounting and Human Resources, and Abbey attends university everyday with her making sure to be Helen’s very eager listening ears. Helen and Abbey are a popular duo at Massey University. People often stop them to chat and find out more about this fantastic little dog in the yellow jacket. Abbey has unintentionally become quite the rock star on campus with people calling out “hi Abbey” wherever they go. Helen suspects Abbey’s name might come more readily to mind than her own when they greet people as they move about the university attending tutorials and lectures. Outside of university Helen has a busy life, but she always takes the time to talk to people interested in Abbey and the work we do at Hearing Dogs for Deaf People NZ. Recently Helen was in a department store. She noticed a rather tired looking father and daughter who were obviously waiting for mum in the changing room trying on clothes. Looking for a way to entertain his daughter, the father asked Helen if she could pat Abbey. The little girl was timid and reluctant at the first touch, but once she realised Abbey was a friendly, well behaved dog with a very important job she was smitten. She patted Abbey for 10 minutes and gave her a huge hug when it was time to leave. “Thank you”, the father said, “this is the first time she has ever been brave enough to touch a dog”. And off they went, the little girl striding ahead smiling from ear to ear. In the words of Maya Angelou. “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.” Thank you Helen. You are doing a wonderful job of educating people young and old about Hearing Dogs and the work we do. Jane’s Dog Studio Jane Tett, owner and manager of Jane’s Dog Studio in New Plymouth has been Hearing Dogs NZ’ groomer of choice for the last decade. Jane originally started her 30 year career by grooming her own Old English Sheep dogs for dog shows. For several years now, she has bred and groomed Bichon Frise dogs. When Jane first started with this breed of dog there were no other groomers in New Plymouth. Although mainly self-taught in the art form, Jane keeps up with the latest trends and equipment by attending the Groom-A-Longs held by the NZDGA (New Zealand Dog Groomers Association) of which she has been a member for many years. Hearing Dogs are very thankful for the wonderful job she does. Puppies in Socialising Hearing Dogs have new adorable puppies that are being socialised until they are old enough to be trained. June’s Jokes Q What is more amazing than a talking dog? A A spelling bee Q What kind of dog does a mad scientist have A Laboratory Retriever Bella Whittaker Buddy In Training with Terry & Delwyn George Albert Brown 9 months of age now and still looking sharp. What a beautiful fellow he is. Now it’s time to get down to some serious (yet fun) training. Lots of outings to the local park and into town. Time to learn the road code and keep away from cars. We all have our fingers crossed hoping he will turn into a first class Hearing Dog. Pippa Our lovely Pippa is nearly at the end of her training. She does her best to keep the boys in check at the Training Centre and at the weekends enjoys a bit of surfing down at the local beach Edison Buddy has had a name change. Thanks to his Powerco Sponsors who ran a naming competition he is now known as Edison or Edi for short (after Thomas Edison who invented the light bulb). He is ready to go to his recipient and we know he will do us proud. Hearing Dogs gs Highly skilled assistance do an k s Special Th t gifts d is a Charitable Trust tha Hearing Dogs New Zealan ders. lan Zea w Ne d d Hearing Impaire Hearing Dogs to Deaf an Are you looking for? pendence • Greater freedom and inde • More confidence urity • Increased safety and sec ion pan com l • A faithfu We are looking for recip ients Are you eligible? e: You might be if you hav (unaided) in loss ring • 65% decibel hea s ear h bot one or ly able to • Physically and economical look after a dog y a working • Like dogs and would enjo partnership in your home • Don’t already have a dog New Plymouth Vet Group New Plymouth Vet Group kindly supported Hearing Dogs for Deaf People New Zealand this year with proceeds from their Christmas Remembrance Tree going to support our Charity. Thank you New Plymouth Vet Group. an k s Special Th A very big thank you to Pelorus Trust who kindly funded the new carpet and vinyl for the Training Centre office cottage. After 14 years the old floor coverings had served us (and all the dogs that have come through the training programme) well. We now have commercial quality carpet. Thank you Pelorus Trust for making this possible. We need your old and used stamps… We are collecting used and old stamps to help us raise funds. Please remember to save any stamps that come in the post and send them our way. Whether your stamps are recent or old, common or rare, wherever they come from across the world, every stamp can be saved! Stamps can be sent to our National Training Centre at 7 Hydro Road, RD1, New Plymouth 4371. Thank you so much for your help… We receive no government funding and rely on the generosity of the public, sponsors and volunteers like you. Thank you for your help . . . it is much appreciated THANK YOU !! ! We gratefully thank the following for their generous support: Sponsors Graphic Art Studio Your name Your postal address National Training Centre Sponsors Postcode I would like to make a donation to Hearing Dogs of: $ Community Trusts Pack of 5 cards and envelopes $10.00 I would like pack(s) of 5 cards $ Pen and the fridge magnet @ $10.00 set $ The JBS Dudding Trust Kiwi & Roo Children’s Book @ $16.00 per book KIWI & ROO TIKI TOUR with SUE By Bruce Newcomb Kiwi & Roo Tiki Tour with Sue Children’s Book @ $16.00 per book Gordon Bartleet Trust Fund $ TIKI TOUR with SUE By Bruce Newcomb ISBN 978-0-473-29633-9 Total amount (a contribution towards postage is appreciated) Thomas George McCarthy Trust $ Estate of Gordon Lindsey Isaacs Cheque enclosed (please make cheques payable to Hearing Dogs) OR please debit my credit card Visa Mastercard Bay Trust Eric Bridgeman Hattaway Trust Fund Card No. NameExpiry W Duncan Bickley Trust Fund Signature Donations of $5 or more are tax deductible. Receipts can be sent upon request. LW Nelson Charitable Trust Listen Up is the official newsletter of Hearing Dogs NZ Charitable Trust TRAINING CENTRE ADDRESS: 7 Hydro Road, RD1, New Plymouth POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 8117, New Plymouth 4342 TELEPHONE: (06) 769 5000 FACSIMILE: (06) 769 5400 EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: hearingdogs.org.nz
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