When Joyce lost her previous trained Hearing Dog, she lost more than a companion — she lost a lifeline. A retired teacher with hearing loss, Joyce found herself more withdrawn from the world, missing the bridge her dog had provided between her and the sounds of daily life. That’s when she decided to apply for a Hearing Dog from Dogs for Better Lives, and got the call about a very special dog named Emerald.
Emerald and Joyce enjoy some time outside
By the second day together at placement, Emerald had already made herself at home — literally settling herself between Joyce’s legs, soaking up love and attention while the placement team talked through next steps. Emerald was eager to work, and Joyce was ready to give her every opportunity to do so.
Sounds That Matter
Inside the home, Emerald is trained to alert Joyce to the oven timer, door knock, smoke alarm, and name call — sounds that most people take for granted but that can make an enormous difference for someone with hearing loss.
“Now I can leave the room when food is cooking to do other things,” Joyce says, “knowing Emerald will alert me when the timer goes off.”
On more than one occasion, she credits Emerald with preventing food from burning or boiling over. The phone alarm is another game-changer — Joyce admits she would have overslept on more than one occasion without Emerald’s timely nudge.
Then there’s the name call. Joyce’s husband Mike no longer needs to raise his voice across the house or come searching room to room. Now, he simply sends Emerald — a quiet, elegant solution that preserves both independence and dignity for everyone in the home.
And the door knock? That’s Emerald’s moment to shine.
“She is full of joy when someone knocks at the door,” Joyce laughs. “Her joy at alerting me is so much fun to experience!”
An Ambassador for the Hard of Hearing
If the home is where Emerald earns her keep, the community is where she truly comes alive — and where she’s brought Joyce back to life, too.
“Being in public with Emerald is my favorite part of having a Hearing Dog,” Joyce says. “She has brought me out of my shell. I like to think of her as an ambassador for the hard of hearing.”
People stop, conversations bloom, and connections form that simply wouldn’t have happened otherwise.
That ambassadorship extends further than Joyce expected. During visits to her father’s dementia ward, Emerald brought joy to residents who rarely light up. At a local retirement home, Joyce and Emerald regularly visit a woman from their church — someone who now has treats waiting every time they walk through the door. Shy, lonely, and neurodivergent individuals who might otherwise remain un-reached have opened up through Emerald, drawn in by her warm and gentle presence.
“Often very shy, lonely folks and residents in nursing homes we’ve visited love visiting with her and me,” Joyce says. “I don’t think I would have connected with them without her.”
The ripple effects of one dog, one placement, one generous community of supporters — are wider than anyone might imagine.
“A HUGE thank you to DBL for providing hearing dogs to all of us in need. They are such a tremendous gift to us,” said Joyce.
Support That Goes the Distance
The partnership hasn’t been without its challenges. Emerald can be overly excited around other dogs. But Dogs for Better Lives didn’t leave Joyce to navigate that alone — the organization sent a trainer to work with Joyce and Emerald directly, and the progress has been significant. It’s a reminder that a placement isn’t a hand-off. It’s the beginning of an ongoing relationship.
A Thank-You to Those Who Started It All
Joyce saves some of her warmest words for the puppy raisers and supporters who made Emerald possible — people she may never meet, but whose impact she lives with every single day.
“Her puppy raisers did such a great job helping her become a loving, fun-loving, obedient dog,” she says. “Thank you so much for the gift of your time and effort in making Emerald such a treasure of a Hearing Dog.”
For donors and volunteers who wonder whether their contribution truly matters: Joyce’s answer is clear.
“Emerald has made a big difference in making me feel more independent. She’s made a difference not just for me — but for everyone whose life she touches.”
That’s the gift you make possible.
Would you or someone you care about benefit from a Hearing Assistance Dog? Visit dogsforbetterlives.org/hearing-dogs to learn more about their work, and apply.
