Rescued dogs lend owners their ears and change lives

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120109/LIVEWELL01/701099928#rescued-dogs-lend-owners-their-ears-and-change-lives

By Katy Healey
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Some people can't hear a fire alarm. The doorbell. A baby's cry.

Cami can.

Cami, a 3-year-old golden retriever, is trained to assist hearing-impaired people. She's visiting Omaha to raise awareness for International Hearing Dog Inc., the Colorado-based organization that trained her. The group plans to place up to 1,200 dogs nationwide this year, including some in Nebraska.

The organization rescues canines from shelters, trains them as hearing-ear dogs and places them with those who are deaf or hard of hearing. There is no cost to the recipient. The group has placed more than 11,000 dogs across the United States since its inception 33 years ago.

Photo: http://www.omaha.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=OW&Date=20120109&Category=LIVEWELL01&ArtNo=701099928&Ref=AR&maxw=745&maxh=400
REBECCA S. GRATZ/THE WORLD-HERALD

Cami the golden retriever tells Bob Cooley of International Hearing Dog Inc. that he has a phone call by jumping to touch his hip during a demonstration last week in Omaha. The pooch, 3, and her handler are in Omaha to raise awareness about hearing-ear dogs.

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FULL story and more photos at link.

[xchrom]

1. Awesome. Nt

[get the red out]

2. +1000

LOVE DOGS!!!!!

[Omaha Steve]

3. Kick

[Quantess]

4. Many dogs love to feel helpful and "good"

Some dogs love to have a job, and they feel proud of themselves when they get some recognition for a job well done.

I know there are many skeptics who underestimate animals, who say that's silly, dogs just learn to follow commands so they can get some food, and they don't have feelings like pride or shame.

Any dedicated dog owner knows its true that dogs have feelings, too. They feel proud of themselves when they learn to do things well. They like to feel appreciated.

[Louisiana1976]

5. K&R!

[Quantess]

6. kick

[lovemydog]

7. beautiful

k & r