For Janis Thomas, a nudge from her dog in a supermarket was the moment things changed.
The former teaching assistant, from Westbury in Wiltshire, says her hearing dog has helped her reclaim her life after severe hearing loss left her isolated.
Thomas spent two decades helping deaf pupils to speak. After retiring, she developed severe tinnitus and withdrew from friends and family because she could not hear what they were saying.
She also became anxious at home, fearing she would not hear someone entering.
Things only improved when she was paired with Valour by the charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.
“The first time I realised the difference he could make to me was when he alerted me to a fire alarm in a supermarket,” she said.
“He repeatedly nudged me with his nose and then dropped to the floor, which is the danger signal. Thankfully, that time, it was only a test, but I knew then that he was always looking out for me.”
Valour has lived with Thomas for nine months, and she said he has helped restore her confidence at home by alerting her to fire alarms, cooker timers and knocks on the door.
“When he trotted through the door, it was love at first sight,” she said.
“It’s hard to describe what’s changed since Valour arrived. I was always a chatty person before I lost my hearing.
“With Valour by my side, I feel as though I’m becoming my old self again. I genuinely couldn’t imagine life without him.”
Thomas said Valour also gets a lot of attention when they are out, and that has helped her too.
“Recently, in a charity shop, a lady started talking to me about Valour being a hearing dog,” she said.
“Then another person joined in. Before I knew it, I was chatting to three strangers at once, something I hadn’t done for years.”
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