Hearing dog may be a hero hound

A Dedicated dog has been shortlisted for a national Hero Hound award. Rosie, the hearing dog for Debs Rolley-Parnell, has reached the final 25 of a competition, organised by Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. The competition was set up to find the nation's most heroic dog as part of the charity's 25th anniversary celebrations.

Mrs Rolley-Parnell, who is profoundly deaf, has had Rosie for four years, since her other hearing dog, Cinders became too old to help her. She suffers from Menieres disease, a disorder of the inner ear, which causes dizziness, vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus. Mrs Rolley-Parnell, of Copes Way, Chaddesden, said Rosie had changed her life and given her confidence she never thought she would have.

She said: "I was struck down with Menieres disease eight years ago and I struggled to cope. "It meant changing the way I was living. Cinders had been a great comfort to me, as I knew she would be there by my side when I had attacks of vertigo, and would help me to the bathroom in time to be sick. She learned to help me as she went along. When Rosie arrived, she was not trained to help me with my Menieres, but I think Cinders taught her. Rosie learnt quickly. She has put up with wearing a body harness when we go out and once she has it on she knows it is time to help me. She even stops at the kerb or where there are potholes, alerting me to small dangers in front of me, so I don't twist my ankle. I don't always look down to look for potholes because I am too busy concentrating on walking in a straight line."

Mrs Rolley-Parnell, 34, said she was shocked and excited when she heard five-year-old Rosie had been shortlisted for the award. She said: "I'm very proud. Rosie proves that dogs can do even more than be the ears for deaf people."

Mrs Rolley-Parnell even puts her fitness down to Rosie.

She said: "One day in the park, Rosie started trying to get me to run, so I did. "She kept encouraging me to run every day at the park and always stayed by my side, I think she was checking I was all right.I began to enjoy running with Rosie so much that I signed up to run in a charity 5km run and I managed it. Running has helped my Menieres attacks, I don't have as many as I used to.It also helps with my balance, giving me confidence to walk about."

The competition winner will be announced later in the year.