Like most Lions Hearing Dog recruits, Zara was sourced from an animal shelter and after months of intensive training was ready to help her new owner, Warrnambool’s Erica Smith.

Zara and Ms Smith had developed a special bond, with Zara helping her hearing-impaired owner with everyday tasks.

“Zara lets me know of the phone ringing, doorbell or someone knocking at the door and any other alerts such as a microwave or kettle boiling,” Ms Smith said.

Fittingly, on the back of Hearing Awareness Week, Zara is returning to work after an 18-month break. Zara stayed at home while Ms Smith, who is a deaf access worker at Mpower, was volunteering in Kiribati. Zara was unable to travel with her owner due to quarantine and safety concerns.

“I very much missed her assistance while I was away and was eager to have Zara back as a full-time hearing dog as soon as possible,” Ms Smith said.

Before she could don the orange hearing dog coat again Zara had to be assessed by the Lions Hearing dog trainers. Ms Smith and Zara travelled to Mount Gambier to conduct her Public Access Test, which Zara passed with flying colours.

“The assessor described her as ‘awesome’ in her ability to remember and act on her original training,” Ms Smith said.

About 3.5 million Australians are hearing impaired or deaf and Ms Smith said it was important people knew where to turn to for help.  

Lions Hearing Dogs has supplied almost 500 dogs to the hearing impaired since it began in 1982. Hearing dogs have the same rights and access as guide dogs and about 98 per cent of them are sourced from animal shelters. For further information about Zara and Lions Hearing Dogs contact Erica on esmith@mpower.org or visit www.hearingdogs.asn.au