Deaf dog who lightened deaf owner’s life...
HE was destined to be a hearing dog who used his finely honed senses to warn a deaf owner of danger.
Yet Larry the cocker spaniel’s career was left in tatters at just 10 weeks old when vets discovered he was profoundly deaf himself.
He didn’t let it hold him back and his positive outlook on life made him perfectly suited as a companion dog.
Now 32-year-old Ruth Mallalieu, who is also deaf, says he has transformed her life. The pair communicate in sign language, and
Ruth says his “endlessly happy and positive attitude” is an inspiration.
Ruth, a copyright and licensing specialist at the University of Sheffield who has been deaf from birth, struggled through school and was made to feel like an “outsider”.
After work she would often return home to Eyam in Derbyshire exhausted following a day of lipreading.
But since Larry moved in December 2018 his boundless energy has given her a zest for life.
She said: “Having Larry has totally changed my life. My husband has commented on how much happier I am since we got him.
“I work long days during the week, and I used to be exhausted in the evenings from the effort of listening and communicating at work, typically falling asleep on the sofa by 9pm.
“Now, I take Larry out for a walk in the evenings and can manage to stay awake through a TV programme – usually with Larry asleep on my lap.
“I can relate to Larry on a very fundamental level because we are both deaf. He brings me solace and takes me out of myself.”
Larry was matched with Ruth after she applied to Hearing Dogs for a confidence and companion dog. These are offered to deaf people for emotional support and companionship.
Being deaf was no impediment to Larry, who turns three in July.
Ruth said: “Larry is the other man in my life, alongside my husband, Jonathan. Jonathan jokes he’s outnumbered in our house because he’s the only one who can hear.
“I remember the first morning we had together I was cuddling Larry for hours. I felt so protective of him because of his disability.
“He’s a bit like me; we’re both very visual, he’s always looking at people’s faces to see how they’ll react or what they want.
“He’s the softest dog you’ll ever meet, he loves everyone and is absolutely fearless.”
Ruth, who has cochlear implants but still struggles to hear, added. “I tried my best to not let my disability hold me back, I’ve always tried to lead a normal life.
“Larry is a very good stigma-buster when it comes to perceptions of deafness. He goes out into the world with an endlessly happy and positive attitude. In a strange sort of way, I suppose I find him very inspiring.
“I don’t have to use my voice with Larry, although naturally I do speak to him.
“If I’ve had a long day of communicating and using my voice, and I’m tired, we’ll go for a walk and communicate only using hand signals and facial expressions. I find this unspoken connection deeply therapeutic.”
David Robson of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, said the confidence and companion dog had made a crucial difference to Ruth.
He said: “She’s discovered a new found energy because of him. He’s deaf and she is deaf, it binds them together and it’s something they have in common.
“It’s a tremendous help when you struggle through life, it is seeing another creature not being held back which is inspiring.
“Larry offers Ruth a sweet relationship, she refers to him as fearless and takes inspiration.”
‘He takes me out of myself’ ‘We’re both very visual’