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Patricia Wall received a lifechanging gift yesterday that will make shopping easier or perhaps save her life.
Profoundly deaf, Patricia will rely on her new best mate, Ruby, to assist her at home and in the community.
Lions Hearing Dogs trainer Mary Knight said Ruby would make Patricia safer and more aware.
“Patricia contacted the Lions Hearing Dogs in Adelaide for an application and when she went through the official process we contacted South Wagga Lions Club and they’re sponsoring Ruby, so they’ll help with the training for the next three months,“ she said.
“She’s (Ruby) been through quite intense training in the last eight months in Adelaide, which includes (recognising) eight household sounds, but also trips into the community into shops, restaurants, public transport; basically everywhere the owner could go before.”
Ruby’s training is valued at about $30,000 and she can recognise the sound of a front door knock, alarm clock, oven timer, microwave, smoke alarm, a baby’s cry, mobile text message and a normal phone, the trainer said.
“Patricia will pick up a lot from Ruby’s body language ... when she hears people walking up and down the driveway she’ll be more aware.”
“She’ll run up to the source of the sound and run back and jump up to Patricia and touch her with two paws and then lead Patricia to the sound.
“For the smoke alarm she’ll drop to the floor to differentiate that it is an emergency signal.”
Fellow dog trainer Darren Coldwell said it’s a tiring week for Ruby and Patricia.
“The dog is taking in a new environment and for the recipient it’s very hard to take in new information, a new skill, over a six-hour day.
“They call it the invisible disability.
“(Ruby) makes people aware.
“When they see the dog people are aware that the recipient is hearing impaired or deaf.”
Patricia will carry a special ID card and Ruby will wear a bright orange jacket when they’re out in the community and the trainers advised that people should not pat Ruby because it will distract her from helping Patricia.