Meet Kerry and ALHD Harley!
Life before Harley looked a bit different for Kerry. Due to a health scare from an undiagnosed tumor – Kerry’s hearing loss was declining rapidly and became very limited. “I cannot discern where a sound is coming from or at times, what the sound is.” Kerry says. Even after acquiring implants, her social and physical well-being still began to decline, and she felt very isolated with minimal social contact. “I began to avoid most social occasions, especially those with 4 or more people. Venturing out to shops was a challenge. People can be quite cruel when they cannot see an obvious disability and I have been accused of being ‘stupid’, ‘dumb’, and some other nasty words.”
After her husband Greg decided to take her to visit the ALHD Training Centre in Verdun, things were starting to look up for Kerry. She was uncertain if she could manage a dog but decided to ultimately apply, put her name down on the waiting list, and take some time to adjust to the idea of having a furry friend.
The stars soon aligned for Kerry, when the perfect dog became available and Harley was offered to her slightly earlier than anticipated. Before Kerry knew it, Harley, along with his trainer and all his gear, soon arrived for the delivery week where they spent the next few days getting acquainted and then began their training. “We worked through him responding to sounds and commands, how he should walk and behave in public places, and made contact with the local vet, pet store and dog groomer. We also had a meeting with three Blackwood Lions volunteers to show how Harley and I should work together and Carly explained the marking system.”
After the three month follow up process with the Blackwood Lions, Harley passed his Public Access Test with flying colours and the pair are now officially a fully accredited Hearing Assistance Dog duo. Since Harley arrived to their home in early April, the pair have been inseparable.
A typical day in their new life begins with Harley alerting Kerry that her alarm has gone off by jumping up onto the bed to ‘touch’ alert, which is of course followed by a treat for Harley’s good work. They then go for a lovely morning walk or have backyard zoomies if the weather is bad. “He is making me exercise, I had retreated from daily walks on shared paths as I had been knocked over by cyclists when I failed to hear their bells or verbal warnings. Harley senses when a cyclist is nearby and pulls me out of the way, even when he’s in dog mode not working mode.”
Kerry also ensures to take Harley somewhere in uniform everyday, this includes going to the shops, a café, an appointment or a friend’s house. Kerry also always finds time for a daily brush to keep him looking smart. “At 4pm, Harley invariably does a touch signal on my knee and leads me to the pantry … it’s his dinner time! He trots around after me most of the day, quite happily following me from room to room as I go about daily tasks.”
In the home, Harley is working all of his sounds perfectly – Kerry is very excited that she no longer burns her cakes and scones! Kerry also uses the ‘go get’ command to get her husband for assistance, which was especially helpful when Kerry had a medical episode and Harley was able to get Greg for assistance.
Going out and about in public looks a bit different now for Kerry. “In public, people are kinder, more understanding and forgiving if I am unaware of something or someone. I am often given right of way in the supermarket for which I am very grateful. “When Harley is not with me on the occasion he is getting groomed, they often wonder where he is. Harley is becoming quite the celebrity.”
“Harley has restored a lot of my confidence and faith in other people. He makes me smile every day. And he’s so wonderfully cheeky! My woolly mate has given me back a sense of hope and joy and confidence in life. We will continue to grow together, learning how to navigate different situations and daily routine. He will continue to make me smile”