Volunteers being sniffed out for new hearing dog puppy recruits

National charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is appealing for dog lovers in Leeds and Otley to become volunteer puppy trainers after expanding its life-changing puppy training programme.

- by Harriet Sutton

The charity, which trains dogs to alert deaf people to important and lifesaving sounds such as smoke alarms, doorbells, and even baby monitors, relies on a nationwide network of dedicated volunteers to help train its puppies.

When fully trained, hearing dogs not only provide practical help to deaf people, but also offer lots of love and emotional support and help reduce isolation and loneliness, which many deaf people experience.

With demand for hearing dogs continuing to grow, the charity's expansion into Leeds and Otley is a vital step in ensuring more deaf people across the UK can benefit from the independence and confidence that a hearing dog brings.