The winners of the 2016 Hearing Dogs Awards.

Star-studded event celebrates incredible partnerships

A ‘life-changing’ cockerpoo, a cocker spaniel that restored her owner’s identity, and a labrador with a gift for restoring confidence have all received top awards from Hearing Dogs in recognition of their work.

The animals received their awards at a star-studded ceremony at Marylebone on Thursday evening (10 November), which was hosted by Olympic gold medallist Amy Williams and ice skating champion Jayne Torvill.

Cockerpoo Rusty received the Royal Canin Life-Changing Partnership Award for helping his owner Sophie Biebuyck come to terms with losing her hearing.

Sophie had a prosperous music career ahead of her before she began to lose her hearing. Her world gradually became silent, she lost her job, her dream of becoming a professional opera singer and moved back into her family home.

“Everything changed when Rusty came,” explained Sophie. “My mood – how can you not be happy when you’ve got him to wake you up in the morning? I began to feel secure and safe in the knowledge that he will let me know what’s going on. His joy is contagious and he has given me that real fulfilment of life again.”

Cocker spaniel Ayla took home the Specsavers Lifeline Award for assisting her owner Hannah Baker. For many years Hannah struggled with her deafness and even tried to take her own life. Since being partnered with her hearing dog Ayla, she feels she has her identity back and is now looking to the future with hope and excitement.

“I no longer feel like a shadow or a nobody, I’ve got an identity and I’m happy with it. For me Ayla has been a lifeline,” said Hannah. “She’s pulled me back on track and put me back on the map. She has made me visible. I don’t feel like I’m drowning at sea any more.”

Finally, 12-year-old Kaitlyn Sodden and her hearing dog Rowan received the Young Partners award for their incredible relationship. Born prematurely at 26 weeks, Kaitlyn weighed less than a bag of sugar and amongst other health difficulties, she was profoundly deaf.

Taking about her partnership with Rowan, Kaitlyn said: “Rowan looks after me. She tries to make me happy whenever I get sad. She gets worried if I get sad or hurt, because she cares about me and I care about her.

“She helps me be brave and happy, she helps me get to sleep at bedtimes and makes me not scared of anything. I would say that Rowan is my best friend. As long as we know each other we’ll never break each other’s hearts.”

The evening also celebrated those who help Hearing Dogs, including Community Champion Award winner Alan Lawrenson.

Over the past few years, Alan has ran over 800 miles to raise funds for Hearing Dogs, including 100 miles whilst made temporarily ‘deaf’ and a further 159 miles across the Sahara Desert.

Jean Todd also collected the Desmond Wilcox Volunteer of the Year award in remembrance of her late husband Phil. Jean and Phil volunteered at Hearing Dogs' Beatrice Wright Centre and have both held numerous roles including puppy socialising and public speaking over the years.

Image (C) Hearing Dogs