By Mo Kanneh

While many volunteers help animals, there are also animals that are returning the favour. Many animals, and their volunteers, help a range of people - from those with disabilities, to people on the mend in hospital.

Hearing dogs

Hearing Dogs For Deaf People was launched at the Crufts Dog Show in 1982. The organisation was set up to train dogs to alert their deaf owners to specific sounds in the home, place of work or in public buildings. They have now placed over 1,000 dogs throughout the United Kingdom.

"The dogs are changing lives in so many ways," says Jenny Moir, a spokesperson for Hearing Dogs for the Deaf. "They bring security to their owner as they can alert them to fire alarms and smoke detectors. The dogs can also alert owners to the phone and babies crying. They don't bark to get the attention of the owner; they use touch and lie down to signify there may be a possible danger. The dogs bring a sense of independence to the owner."

"When a hearing dog is around this usually means the deaf person's carer can go back to work," Jenny continues. "This new found independence for the deaf person then brings confidence. The owner will take the dog for a walk and people will usually stop them and talk about the dog. People will be aware that the owner is deaf as the dog wears a jacket saying the owner is deaf. People will take the time to converse face to face with the owner. This brings about a feeling of social inclusion. Deafness is an invisible disability, so people don't tend to communicate with deaf people. The dog brings them back to the world."

Many people are currently benefiting from hearing dogs. "We have 1,200 dogs that have been placed as hearing dogs," Jenny says. "Many of the dogs were placed when we first started in 1982, so some of them are reaching the end of their lives and many more are now being trained to take over."

There are many volunteering opportunities with Hearing Dogs For Deaf People. "You could be a puppy socialiser," says Jenny. "This involves taking in a puppy for about eight months and preparing it for a life as a hearing dog. We also need emergency carers and dog walkers when the owners are under the weather or in hospital. We are also always on the look out for drivers."

Pets as therapy

Anyone with a pet knows what a calming effect they can have on the mind and research has shown that close contact with animals can speed up the healing process in patients.

Pets as Therapy (PAT) is a nationwide charity that has over 3,000 volunteers who visit hospitals, residential homes and special schools with their temperament-assessed cats and dogs. The animals provide the brand of companionship and unconditional love that only a caring pet can bring.

The PAT animals also visit people who feel isolated and lonely in the community giving them the chance to cuddle and chat to an animal.

Three thousand dogs and cats of all shapes, sizes and breeds are used as PAT animals. The pet needs to be 'bomb-proof' - in other words, it isn't alarmed by noises or unfamiliar people. The main thing the animals do is sit and get cuddled and caressed.

The animals have been used very successfully in the rehabilitation of stroke patients - holding the animals can help people regain co-ordination and motor skills. The animals have even helped a number of patients regain some speech following a stroke by creating a talking point and jogging the patient's memory about their pets.

If your pet is gentle, calm, loving and craves attention they would be the perfect candidate to become a PAT animal.

But even if you don't have a pet you can still get involved. "People without pets can definitely get involved," says Maureen Hennis, Chief Executive of PAT. "They can be buddied-up with a dog owner, fundraise or generally raise awareness about the organisation."

Full details are available on the PAT website.

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