Elvis is no hound dog

BY DENISE PIPER

Elvis the king was known for his musical talent but in Whangarei Elvis does his job silently.

Elvis is Northland’s first official hearing dog and alerts Leanne Platjes to important noises like alarms or people knocking at the door.

Leanne, who is almost 100 percent deaf, says Elvis gives her confidence, companionship and security.

Leanne and her mother Lorraine Messenger are hoping to raise awareness of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People NZ, which has an appeal in October.

Leanne lost her hearing gradually after getting mumps at age three. She learnt to lip read before she was diagnosed as being deaf at seven.

Leanne says she decided to get a hearing dog about three years ago after her car was stolen while she was at home in Kensington.

"I can’t hear anybody. It was the last straw."

Leanne lives with husband Craig and daughter Emily, 15, but works at home by herself as a machinist.

Elvis responds to sounds like someone at the door or timers by pawing Leanne on the leg.

When she asks "where is it?" he leads her to the source of the noise.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People NZ is a charitable trust which rescues young dogs of any breed and trains them to be hearing dogs.

Training costs $13,500 for each dog, which are matched to a deaf person for free.

The dogs are approved by the government to go anywhere with their deaf owner.

Leanne says Elvis comes everywhere, including supermarkets and restaurants.

"He’s got to be with me 24/7 in case a fire alarm goes off," she says.

Elvis recently enjoyed a family holiday in Rotorua.

The only place he does not go is church on Sundays where there are too many distracting people.

Leanne says Elvis gives her more confidence to be at home on her own.

"I don’t have to rely on other people and he’s just good company."

Lorraine says she volunteered to be a registered speaker for the trust after seeing the difference Elvis made to Leanne’s life.

"Being deaf can be quite a solitary life. She’s got so much more confidence than she had before."

- Groups interested in a talk about Hearing Dogs for Deaf People NZ and a demonstration by Leanne and Elvis can contact Lorraine on 435-4298.

The trust’s street appeal is on Friday, October 16.

- © Fairfax NZ News