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When it was discovered in 9th grade that I had a hearing loss, I felt lost and alone.
It seemed I was the only one I knew that had a hearing loss. After all, only old people had this problem.
Life would have been so much easier if I had known then, what I know now, about hearing dogs.
I received my first hearing dog, or my "angel ears" in 1990. His name was Tang. Tang was a mixed breed and 30 pounds of love and loyalty -- my passport to freedom and independence. No longer would I have to worry about getting hit by cars, not hearing the door or missing the telephone.
Every morning I was greeted by his smiling face and enthusiasm for a new morning. How could you not be in a good mood when you woke up to bright eyes and wet doggy kisses. He also loved to answer the door and did so with all the gusto and enthusiasm of a mini-tornado. Racing up and down the stairs, from me to the door, until I caught up to him at the door.
Doorbells meant company, and company meant more love and attention for Tang.
Tang was my goodwill ambassador to the world, and he allowed me to tell the world about my hearing loss. I never felt comfortable talking about it, and tried to hide it, but with Tang by my side I was surprised at how easy it became to talk about it.
For ten years my faithful angel ears served me and protected me.
Then, in an ironic twist of fate, my angel ears became deaf himself. I cried when the time came I had to put him to sleep.
My angel ears has crossed the Rainbow Bridge, and I miss him terribly. But now, a new set of angel ears has come to live with me and has opened up a new place in my heart.
Her name is Gypsy Rose, and together we have become a great team -- ready to conquer the world and educate people about hearing dogs, and hearing loss.
-- Sandra K. Ash
ANGEL EARS, TANG
I think there's something great and generic about goldfish. They're everybody's first pet.
Paul Rudd
Need to Use Extension Cords? Never put them under rugs. Because of wear-and-tear, the cords can fray, bend to expose wire, be gnawed on by pets and possibly short out, causing a fire.
