Molly the mongrel: one man’s best friend

By Tony Watts - Editor - 26/07/2007

When a scruffy little mongrel was rescued by the RSPCA at a few months old she would hardly have struck anyone as one of life’s winners. But life has an uncanny knack of turning expectations on their head.

As the hearing dog for Tony Higbed of Baildon, Yorkshire, she won the hearts of the BBC audience and the crowd at Crufts 2007 – a great result for the devoted pair as well as Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, who  celebrate their 25th anniversary this year. And the part she plays in Tony’s life cannot be underestimated. As he himself says: “Before I had her I was just another person in the crowd but now nearly everyone in my town knows Molly - and me.

“She has made such a difference to me, providing me with companionship as well as practical assistance after my wife died and then my pet dog passed away shortly afterwards.”

Tony and Molly’s success story as a partnership came about as a direct result of an article appearing in the Dogs Trust magazine. The 2001 winter issue carried a feature on a hearing dog called Sapphire that had originally come from the Dogs Trust centre in Bridgend. The Dogs Trust has supplied a great many hearing dogs over the years. Tony Higbed saw this article and it touched him so much that he wrote a letter to the editor to ask for more information about Hearing Dogs.

The Dogs Trust information office passed the letter on to Hearing Dogs, and that was the start of an exciting and rewarding journey for Tony Higbed. He applied for a hearing dog, was interviewed and accepted for one, then began a long wait.  Finally in January 2003, Tony received his very own canine companion – Molly.

Molly was just three and a half months old when she was selected from the RSPCA for training to become a hearing dog. She then spent many months with a Hearing Dog volunteer being socialised before she progressed to the advanced soundwork training. Ten months after she was taken on by the Charity, she went on to her new life as a much-loved assistant for Tony, and in the time they have been together they have been described as being akin to “an old married couple”.

After only one year together Tony nominated Molly for the much-coveted Rescue Hearing Dog of the Year Award.  In his nomination letter he wrote: “Molly was an unwanted present. I do not understand why she could have been unwanted; but I am glad they did not want her because now I have her and I want her.”

Tony has been hard of hearing for many years. While his wife was alive this did not pose a great problem to him.  He explains:  “My wife always spoke loudly and clearly, looking at me when she spoke and I understood even if I had not actually heard. We always went out together and she told me what had been said by other people.  When she died I still had Jenny, who although not trained, barked when the phone or doorbell rang.  She died at a very young age shortly after my wife - I felt devastated, completely on my own.”

Chris Pitt, spokesman for the RSPCA added: "We're all very proud of Molly and delighted for Tony and everyone at Hearing Dogs. Molly's story is wonderful - from unwanted Christmas puppy to Crufts winner - and shows that every dog, whether a cross-breed or pedigree, has the potential to be a champion.”

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People trains dogs, mostly from rescue centres, to alert deaf people to everyday sounds and danger signals like the telephone, doorbell, smoke alarm and fire bell. Instead of barking, the dogs alert the deaf person by touch, using a paw to gain attention and then leading them back to the sound source. For sounds such as the smoke alarm and fire bell, the dogs alert then lie down to indicate danger.
As well as practical assistance, hearing dogs provide greater independence and security.  Many recipients say their hearing dog has given them the confidence to try things they wouldn’t have dreamed of attempting before.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People provides a national service and no charge is made to recipients. The Charity receives no Government funding and relies on the support of individuals and organisations.  Around 70% of all hearing dogs adopted into the scheme are either rescued or unwanted and, since 1982, it has placed over 1,300 hearing dogs. The Charity has two centres – in Bucks and North Yorkshire.

You can contact Hearing Dogs for Deaf People at The Grange, Wycombe Road, Saunderton, Princes Risborough, Bucks HP27 9NS. Call 01844 348 100 (voice and minicom)  or email info@hearingdogs.org.uk. Their website address is www.hearingdogs.org.uk