HomeCommunityHearing dog is more than a set of ears

Hearing dog is more than a set of ears

David Eslick and Jake the hearing dog
Bundaberg resident David Eslick received a Lions hearing dog called Jake and says the fox terrier-jack russell cross is a lifesaver.

Youā€™ve heard about a guide dog, but what about a hearing dog?

Bundaberg resident David Eslick received a Lions hearing dog called Jake on 18 September and describes the 15-month-old terrier-cross as a lifesaver.

With the canine companion by his side, David said he knows when the doorbell rings, when the ovenā€™s ready or when the phoneā€™s calling.

ā€œI really am so lucky to have him,ā€ David said.

ā€œEverybody takes for granted the normal things like the telephone ringing, smoke alarm going off or the microwave and oven ringing.

ā€œThose things I canā€™t hear, so Jake knows these sounds and he can alert me to any of these.

ā€œWhat he does is jump on me when the oven or doorbell is going and takes me to the sound.ā€

Jake the hearing dog
Jake the hearing dog

Jake is dog number 621 as part of the Australian Lions Hearing Dog program, which has been helping deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals around Australia since 1982.

The cost to train an Australian Lions Hearing Dog is currently $37,000, however they are given out free of charge to hearing-impaired people as a gift from Lions Clubs of Australia.

Jenifer Carter, assistant secretary at the Lions Club of Moore Park Beach said they helped sponsor and fund the dogā€™s delivery.

ā€œWe were lucky enough to meet Jake on Thursday and he is such a sweet little dog,ā€ Jenifer said.

ā€œThe Lions Australia have funded this little dog, and the Moore Park Lions have also put in a certain amount of funding.

ā€œThe training is actually done in Adelaide, so Jake flew up from South Australia and had his own seat on the plane.ā€

ā€œWeā€™re extremely fortunate to be deliver and help people in this way and weā€™ll be checking up with Jake and David to see how they get on.ā€

In public an Australian Lions Hearing Dog can help a deaf or hearing-impaired person pick up on environmental sounds that they may normally miss, such as a person coming up behind them with a trolley.

Who wants to see Jake at work? This is just one example of the skills that Jake possesses

Posted by Moore Park Lions Club on Thursday, September 17, 2020

As with guide dogs for the vision impaired, hearing dogs wear a special identification harness when outside and are allowed into all public spaces.

David said living with deafness can often be a lonely, isolating experience, but hearing dogs offer love, company and independence.

He said the hearing dog program was relatively unknown and he urged others to apply.

ā€œMy deafness comes about from years in the entertainment sound industry and canā€™t be fixed with a Cochlear implant,ā€ David said.

ā€œHaving Jake and a hearing dog improves my quality of life.

ā€œI can go out with confidence now. I can go out and not have to worry about missing things or relying on people to tell me things.

ā€œIt wouldnā€™t been possible without the Lions Club of Moore Park Beach and the Australian Lions and Iā€™m so thankful to them.

“This is a great program that really helps people with deafness and the more people that know about it the better.ā€

1 COMMENT

1 COMMENT

  1. Congratulation to David and Australian Lions Hearing Dog “Jake”. Hearing dogs do so much more than just alert you to sounds, their unconditional love and companionship will give David a new lease of life too. I hope you have a wonderful and rewarding life together.

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