Premium ContentMouse over Home then click on Premium Content for information.Video: Bob Cooley raises awareness for International Hearing Dog Inc.
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Some people can't hear a fire alarm. The doorbell. A baby's cry.
Cami can.
Cami, a 3-year-old golden retriever, is trained to assist hearing-impaired people. She's visiting Omaha to raise awareness for International Hearing Dog Inc., the Colorado-based organization that trained her. The group plans to place up to 1,200 dogs nationwide this year, including some in Nebraska.
The organization rescues canines from shelters, trains them as hearing-ear dogs and places them with those who are deaf or hard of hearing. There is no cost to the recipient. The group has placed more than 11,000 dogs across the United States since its inception 33 years ago.
"The dogs take their work very, very seriously," said Bob Cooley, Cami's handler. "They work 24/7."
Once rescued, the dogs are trained to alert a hearing-impaired person to noise cues by initiating gentle physical contact. They then lead the person to the source of the sound. Training typically takes between eight and 10 months.
"We've done baby cry, microwave oven, washer, dryer, alarm clock," Cooley said. "You name it, we can train the dogs to respond to it."
There currently are no dogs in Nebraska trained by the group, which is partly why Cooley and Cami are in Omaha. "All the dogs in Nebraska have either passed away or moved on, but we would love to place some more up here in Nebraska," Cooley said.
To raise awareness and funding for the group, the Omaha-area Lions Clubs will host a Jan. 22 bowl-a-thon at Wildcat Lanes in Papillion. Check-in begins at 12:30 p.m. and bowling is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Don Hieb, one of the bowl-a-thon organizers, asks that each participant raise or donate $30 to the cause. In return, participants will bowl for free as well as receive lunch and a T-shirt. Cooley and Cami will make an appearance that afternoon too.
During a demonstration at an Omaha Petsmart store, Cooley told tales of unique and helpful talents. One dog joined a new mom. The pup's presence allowed her to move through the house while her infant slept — the dog acted as a mobile baby monitor.
One woman credits her hearing-ear dog for her culinary skills. There are no more burned dinners now that her dog tells her when the kitchen timer sounds. Another canine poked his paws through a newspaper when his deaf owner didn't respond to more subtle attempts to get his attention. Someone had rung the doorbell.
Other stories are more heroic. One dog barked incessantly until the neighbors took notice. It didn't take long — barking is unusual among dogs who assist people who can't hear. The neighbors found the dog's owner on the floor, having suffered a heart attack. "They called the paramedics, got him to a hospital, and everything was OK," Cooley said.
He said the dogs not only help owners with everyday tasks but also address safety concerns.
"These are literally life-changing dogs for these people," Cooley said.
For more information about the program, contact Don Hieb of the Omaha Westside Lions Club, 402-333-6163.
Contact the writer: 402-444-1071, katy.healey@owh.com, twitter.com/KatyHealey5
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VIDEO: Bob Cooley raises awareness for International Hearing Dog Inc.
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