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Nicola Willis with hearing dog Lye, who alerts her to a variety of warning noises. Picture by Simon Rogers. 18379201

A DEAF woman says she regularly gets asked to leave shops and receives constant abuse from people who do not understand the role of her hearing dog.

Nicola Willis was born totally deaf and has a hearing dog who alerts her to alarms, doorbells and other warning noises.

The dog, called Lye, is an official hearing dog and wears a burgundy coat with the words 'Hearing Dogs for Deaf People' clearly written on it.

Lye is allowed into all public places, including shops and restaurants, but Miss Willis is constantly told to leave because people do not recognise her as a working dog.

"I suffer abuse from many different people," said Miss Willis.

"Bus drivers argue she is not a hearing dog, they say I have to pay for her.

"I have been thrown out of shops, and people say to me Why are you allowed a dog in here?' "There are a lot of people who are fine, and many shops and restaurants know Lye and I and are very accommodating."

Miss Willis, 49, of New Bank Street, Barbourne, Worcester, cannot hear the majority of sounds hearing people take for granted, so Lye is her ears.

She is able to lip read the comments people make.

The five-year-old King Charles spaniel will scratch at Miss Willis's ankle to alert her to the doorbell going, the phone ringing or a fire alarm going off.

It is therefore vital Lye accompanies her on trips into the city.

Jenny Moir, spokesman for Hearing Dogs, said the animals are registered assistance dogs just like guide dogs and under the Disability Discrimination Act, are allowed access to public places.

"If people see somebody with a dog with a jacket it means the person at the end of the lead is deaf," she said.

"They need to have deaf awareness like making sure they are facing the person when they are speaking to them.

"If you want to approach the dog have the courtesy to speak to the owner and say is it alright. Do not just go straight up and pat it.

"Be aware that hearing dogs are afforded exactly the same access as guide dogs and are trained to exactly the same standard.

"They do work in the home, but they will alert to fire bells, smoke alarms and bomb alerts, which is why they need to be with their owner at all times."

7:10am Thursday 8th May 2008

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