She is.
My first hearing dog died of old age in 2002. Then my second hearing died also at the age of 13 in 2016. My first two dogs were rescue mongrels that Hearing Dogs had chosen and trained.
I was offered a 3rd one,(Claire had been Director and had left by this time). But my arthritis and other mobility problems meant it was harder now for me to take care of a dogs needs and grooming.
Also I had just gone through a traumatic year with Meg (my then Hearing Dog) where she’s had a brain tumour. It was a constant round of vets, Veterinary Hospitals, and one fraught emergency dash by me alone in my car, with Meg lifeless on the front seat, the drip had been disconnected because I wasn’t a trained medical person, from one veterinary hospital to the main one many miles away, because the veterinary ambulance wouldn’t arrive in time. Meg was dying.
I shall never forget that trip. But the main Veterinary Hospital saved her that day. Ten days later I took her home, and I did get permission from insurance for all the costs of chemotherapy.
But she was an older dog, and I made the decision to take her home rather than put her through the trauma of that. That was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.
Surprising Meg lived another six months, and still did all her Hearing Dog duties. She was officially retired by then. But she didn’t know that she was retired, and still worked for all her tasks until the day she died in my arms.
I couldn’t go through the trauma of having another Hearing Dog. I am crying writing this. I didn’t think I was still this upset.
Meg was very devoted to me.