Seven Years Ago . . .

pek1

pek1

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Snickers came to be with me seven years ago either yesterday or today. She started being my hearing dog in late-winter/early-spring 2002. She has done a fantastic job and am pleased with her work with me.

As many of you know, Snickers is a female Akita-German Shepherd mix and was about a year old when I found her at the Humane Society of Ramsey County in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She has lived with me, attended classes, traveled to quite a number of states, been in all kinds of weather and met a lot of people, as well as at least two police officers that have threatened her life and my safety. Fortunately, she is alive, healthy and injury-free. Unfortunately, she is not always welcome in the Deaf community, or accepted by other deaf/hoh.

My question for others that are "hard-core" Deaf community (note the capital "D"), what do you have against hearing dogs? As one audiologist told me, "every little bit helps." She's my second set of ears, so I don't understand your hostility? So, what do you have to say for yourselves? I am quite angry that I even have to post something like this and presumed that all deafs would welcome help like this. Am I missing something?

By the way, Happy Anniversary, Snickers! I'm glad you're with me! Thank you, my girl dog!!!
 
Obviously, you cannot be parted from your dog and sensing how well your dog 'Snickers' has accomplished great tasks for you up to now and continues to do so. :)thumb:) As with anything pertaining to our everyday life, any little help or addition can go a long ways. Perhaps those that shows some hostility toward you or your dog may just be 'jealous'?? Or the simple fact that they cannot show their appreciation for what you do have and see things from your angle...to see how worthwhile it is to have a wonderful dog that helps assist you.

Anyhow, happy anniversary to 'Snickers'!! :cool:





~RR
 
Reba and Roadrunner,

Thank you for those kind remarks. I did think of that, but I thought, "no, that can't be the reason." It just may be true, but I hope it's not, no offense to the two of you.
 
pek1 said:
My question for others that are "hard-core" Deaf community (note the capital "D"), what do you have against hearing dogs? As one audiologist told me, "every little bit helps." She's my second set of ears, so I don't understand your hostility? So, what do you have to say for yourselves? I am quite angry that I even have to post something like this and presumed that all deafs would welcome help like this. Am I missing something?
Click to expand...

Happy aniversary, Pete and Snickers! :party:

I am not "hard core" Deaf, so maybe my answer is useless. But I read your post after reading some posts about deaf and SSI, with some replies against SSI for deaf and thought:

Maybe the same issue with SSI for deaf - a deaf/HoH person doesn't need SSI or want service dog is upset because SSI or service dog means deaf/HoH is a disability and the person wants others view is not disabled......I am writing it wrong I think......But if I tell all hearing people that I am not disabled - "I just can't hear" - and then the hearing people see a deaf/HoH with a service dog, maybe the hearing think I am disabled. Maybe some deaf/HoH nervous about themselves and hearing people's opinoins. I don't know - I only guess/imagine.

I have no problems with hearing dogs and agree: "every little bit helps." If I live alone I might get a hearing dog for safety. Now I don't want a service dog because a dog is work and make going to parties, other apartments etc harder I think. But no hostility of course.

Sorry you get hostility, Pete. But nothing you can do except be friendly and hope people get to know you and Snickers.

Good dog, Snickers! :) :h5:
 
pek1 said:
Snickers came to be with me seven years ago either yesterday or today. She started being my hearing dog in late-winter/early-spring 2002. She has done a fantastic job and am pleased with her work with me.

As many of you know, Snickers is a female Akita-German Shepherd mix and was about a year old when I found her at the Humane Society of Ramsey County in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She has lived with me, attended classes, traveled to quite a number of states, been in all kinds of weather and met a lot of people, as well as at least two police officers that have threatened her life and my safety. Fortunately, she is alive, healthy and injury-free. Unfortunately, she is not always welcome in the Deaf community, or accepted by other deaf/hoh.

My question for others that are "hard-core" Deaf community (note the capital "D"), what do you have against hearing dogs? As one audiologist told me, "every little bit helps." She's my second set of ears, so I don't understand your hostility? So, what do you have to say for yourselves? I am quite angry that I even have to post something like this and presumed that all deafs would welcome help like this. Am I missing something?

By the way, Happy Anniversary, Snickers! I'm glad you're with me! Thank you, my girl dog!!!
Click to expand...

That sucks. I don't get it that the deaf community doesn't welcome hearing dogs. I think hearing dogs are awesome. One of the foster families I lived with, the mother is Deaf. She had a hearing dog that was wonderful...not only did she work for her, but she ended up working for me too when I'm home alone...she even protected me on one occasion. She was an awesome black Labrador. Unfortunately she got sick and had to be put to sleep about two years ago and I miss her dearly.

Give Snicker a big Happy Anniversary hug from me!

I would love to get a hearing dog for myself but I already have 3 cats and cannot afford a dog, can't afford dog food and dog vet bills right now. I can only afford what I have for my cats...maybe in the future when my fiance moves in with me, then I'll think about starting the process in getting a hearing dog. It would help a lot especially in the safety area such as fires...I cannot use strobe fire alarms as they blind me completely and I can't find my way out safely. I found this out when I was at the state school for the deaf and it took me like 5 minutes to find the door to get out of the room. Bad idea. I think a dog would be a better alternative than a strobe fire alarm.

I would like to get a small dog, like a chihuahua or a pug. If not, I would love a golden retriever or a yellow Labrador, or even an Akita. But I have a small apartment so I think a small dog would be best. I would want my dog to be comfortable.

Anyway, congratulations on Snicker's anniversary!!! :applause:
 
Happy Anniversary Snickers!

At Gallaudet, there were a few students with a hearing dog and I dont remember anyone being hostile to them. Maybe I missed it but none of my Deaf friends ever made any nasty comments. It was nothing out of the ordinary to us so it was not a big deal.

I dont mind getting a hearing dog to alert me of dangers but I am not sure if I would be good at having a dog with me all the time. I am not a patient person sometimes.

At my work's Halloween event, there was a Hearing Dog display and many people showed interest in it. I wonder how my hard-core Deaf co-workers reacted to the booth but I was too busy chasing after my 2 year old to pay attention. Maybe I can ask them about what they thought of it and see how they react? Then I can ask them why the hostility if they tell me that they are against it.

As far as I know, nobody has brought up hearing dogs at any of the deaf events, socials, or workshops I have been to.
 
for Snickers

aasnickersnp1.jpg
 
Happy Anniversary, Snickers! I met her couple years ago, WOW!! She is awesome and beauitful dog... You are lucky to have her..


About the Deaf community or other places dont accept her, I wonder is she a "cerficated" hearing dog throughout by the Hearing Dog Associate? If not, thats why!...

Most people think differently -- Pet -- Service dog -- no matter what you work hard for your pet..

:)
 
Thank you all so much for the kind remarks. :ty: I know all of you were able to read between the lines as to how I was feeling when I wrote it and elaborated what you said.

As for the strobe light, which we haven't had go off for awhile, actually not at all this year, Snickers is very quick to get me alerted and out of the room and almost goes ballistic with the sound, so I'd better move my butt, as she's ready to go (which a good hearing dog does this very well).

Snickers is showing signs of slowing down, but her alerting is still up there. Our walks sometimes are slower, although when she plays, she plays hard, so I can't really tell if she is, indeed, slowing down.

As for Gallaudet, shel, I really appreciated that comment! This morning on the way to class, just outside of my dorm building, I noticed an unneutered pit bull (with a collar) running loose. I subtly went back to the blue light and pressed emergency and summoned someone for help. Right after that happened, the supervisor of the resident assistants of my building came by and distracted the dog, actually, putting himself in harms way (I need to talk to him about this one). I was quite frightened and never do during daylight hours, but because of the breed of the dog and that Snickers took a tumble with a 4-wheeler she was playing with late last night, I knew if the other dog smelled any blood, we'd both be in trouble. Snickers had a couple of scratches from playing last night, which rubbing alcohol worked well for a disinfectant.
 
MsGiglz said:
Happy Anniversary, Snickers! I met her couple years ago, WOW!! She is awesome and beauitful dog... You are lucky to have her..


About the Deaf community or other places dont accept her, I wonder is she a "cerficated" hearing dog throughout by the Hearing Dog Associate? If not, thats why!...

Most people think differently -- Pet -- Service dog -- no matter what you work hard for your pet..

:)
Click to expand...

No, I trained Snickers myself with some assistance from other people. I also read about half of the book http://www.dogwise.com/Photos/Large/DTB631_c.jpg and ran with the information. I am pressed for time right now, but there's something in the book that I will dispute and that is, I did NOT look at some 600 dogs in order to find one. In reality, I had looked off and on for a few years, and the last one when I was ready to get one, maybe 10 dogs, if even that many. Out of seven on the night I picked her, one was rejected right away as being too vicious.
 
Happy Anniversay, Snickers and Pek1!!! You two work together to make the job easier so that you can see that Snickers is responding to all the sounds around you for you. I think it is great to have an hearing ear dog. I wish that I could have a hearing ear dog but not the right time to have one, yet. I have to agree with Rockdrummer that the Deaf community is probably jealous and would like to have a hearing ear dog, too. I don't know for sure. :dunno: Yes, the dog is getting older and so are you since you got Snickers back in 2002 that means that is five years ago not seven years ago. Hope I got it right this time with the year between 2002 to 2007. It does not matter as long as you are celebrating the anniversary of being together as Deaf Master and Hearing ear dog. :wave:
 
Congratulations!


I'm very impressed that you have trained her mostly. The huge turn-offs for me when I wanted a hearing dog from an agency was about their no dog rule in the current household. Am curious about the certification process if you trained her yourself, did you have to get some type of certificate to prove that she is a good canie citizen or something like that?
 
Kai Onca said:
Congratulations!


I'm very impressed that you have trained her mostly. The huge turn-offs for me when I wanted a hearing dog from an agency was about their no dog rule in the current household. Am curious about the certification process if you trained her yourself, did you have to get some type of certificate to prove that she is a good canie citizen or something like that?
Click to expand...

I started with a program, but didn't like their attitude toward me. As for "certification," there is no such thing under the ADA, which is a federal law. If these programs had their way, no one would have any sort of service animal without a certifying process, of which even I have proven, is not necessary.

Face it, doctors have screwed up a good many of us, diagnosing us for something that we are not, then the audiologists got on board and showed their incompetence. Now, they'd be sued left and right if they did what was done in the past. I think you know what I mean, as many others probably do. As far as I'm concerned, hearies have no say in how I train my hearing dog and the same applies for you: Train your dog as you have the need for him and be consistent. Good luck! :thumb:

As for awards, she doesn't have any, but she'd match if not beat any other dog out there that works as hard as she does.

I got Snickers in October 2000 and the paperwork said she was a year old. She started training to be my hearing dog in late winter/early spring 2002. She's been on duty for five-and-a-half years.
 
pek1 said:
Snickers came to be with me seven years ago either yesterday or today. She started being my hearing dog in late-winter/early-spring 2002. She has done a fantastic job and am pleased with her work with me.

As many of you know, Snickers is a female Akita-German Shepherd mix and was about a year old when I found her at the Humane Society of Ramsey County in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She has lived with me, attended classes, traveled to quite a number of states, been in all kinds of weather and met a lot of people, as well as at least two police officers that have threatened her life and my safety. Fortunately, she is alive, healthy and injury-free. Unfortunately, she is not always welcome in the Deaf community, or accepted by other deaf/hoh.

My question for others that are "hard-core" Deaf community (note the capital "D"), what do you have against hearing dogs? As one audiologist told me, "every little bit helps." She's my second set of ears, so I don't understand your hostility? So, what do you have to say for yourselves? I am quite angry that I even have to post something like this and presumed that all deafs would welcome help like this. Am I missing something?

By the way, Happy Anniversary, Snickers! I'm glad you're with me! Thank you, my girl dog!!!
Click to expand...

Aw, I am glad she is there for ya. You are her master and know your voice. Hearin' people should know better than that when deaf people need their hearin' dogs to be with them.

I have somethin' to tell you, Pete - In Juneau, Alaska they allow the deaf people to bring their hearin' dogs with them to work. I had one friend of mine who has one med. size dog. She took her to work. I thought it was really cool. She even showed me her new puppy thru VP 2 weeks ago... aww, it melted my heart ! This is her 3rd dog.

Happy Anniversary, Snickers !! WTG, girl ! :hug: ( Hey, psst... Pete, I hope you don't mind me huggin' her. Lol )
 
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