Annual Dogs For The Deaf Walk June 2

Nelson

Registration is $25.00 (children under 12 are free).  The last day to register to participate is May 25. (A very limited number of t-shirts will be available for purchase at the walk, but there is NO day-of-the-event registration.)

In 1977, Dogs for the Deaf  began rescuing dogs from shelters and training them to serve as the ears for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.  These dogs are trained to alert their partners to a variety of household sounds including the smoke alarm, doorbell/knock, telephone, alarm clock, oven buzzer, and someone calling the person’s name.  Hearing Dogs increase independence and security, enhance employability and parenting skills, and even save the lives of their partners.  One recipient of one of Dogs for the Deaf’s Hearing Dogs recently wrote, “Harley (her Hearing Dog) has taught me to be myself, on my own two feet, able to more fully participate in relationships with my husband, my children, my friends.  The greatest gift of all is…He’s taught me to fly.”

In recent years, Dogs for the Deaf has expanded its work to train dogs for children with autism and also for professionals who work with people with disabilities or trauma.  These dogs greatly enhance safety, cognitive development, coping skills and provide incredible benefits to people with autism and many other disabilities and challenges.

Autism Assistance Dogs help with cognitive development, focus, and speech.  They also provide a calming effect, sense of control, and continuity that allow children with autism to go places and do things they are otherwise unable to handle.  Additionally, Autism Assistance Dogs are trained to serve as an anchor to prevent the child from bolting and running into unsafe situations such as traffic, bodies of water, the woods, etc.

Professional Assistance Dogs are placed with professionals (teachers, physicians, counselors, therapists, courtroom advocates, etc.) who work with people with disabilities or trauma.  The dog accompanies the professional to work every day and is trained to interact in various ways with patients, clients, students to provide needed focus or distraction, motivation, and calming in order to enhance treatment, learning, and development.

Nelson, a Professional Assistance Dog trained by Dogs for the Deaf, was recently placed with a teacher of a special needs class at the Ashland Middle School.  Nelson is trained to help the students maintain focus on their tasks and to motivate them to complete their work.  A parent of a child in this class recently wrote, “We have seen the whole class benefit immensely from Nelson’s training and calm and wonderful presence.”  The Principal said that since Nelson arrived the other students are now treating these students with more respect and kindness.  Nelson has had a positive effect on the entire school.  Nelson has been recognized by the Oregon Veterinary Association and is being inducted into their Canine Hall of Fame on March 17 in Corvallis.

Dogs trained by Dog for the Deaf are placed free of charge nationwide and in Canada.  Funding for this special work comes from donations from individuals, service clubs, businesses, and people who include Dogs for the Deaf in their estate planning.

Dogs for the Deaf trainers go to shelters in Washington, Oregon, California, and Utah, looking for dogs who meet the requirements to be an Assistance Dog.  Those passing the initial evaluation are brought back to the training facility and begin 5-6 months of training. Any dog who is unable to complete its training is placed in a loving, forever home.  No dogs are returned to the shelter.

To tour the Dogs for the Deaf training facility (located in Sam’s Valley), call 541-826-9220 or for more information on this unique program go to www.dogsforthedeaf.org.