For Max, getting a Hearing Assistance Dog wasn’t simply about convenience — it was about safety, independence, and peace of mind.
Max and London visit Chetro Ketl in New Mexico
“My cochlear implants miss a lot of sounds and there are times when I can’t use them,” Max explained. Living in a wildfire-prone area of Colorado made those missed sounds feel especially significant.
“If I were unable to use my audio processors, I’d miss an evacuation order or other important notice. A Hearing Dog seemed the practical approach.”
As Max researched programs, he discovered most Hearing Dog organizations required clients to travel out of state for placement training and annual recertifications. Then he found Dogs for Better Lives.
“I was excited when Dogs for Better Lives matched me with London so I wouldn’t need to make these trips,” Max shared. “I also liked that Laura, a Field Representative from DBL, could train me to handle London in my own home, vet, and shops. She could see the environment where London would live and work.”
That personalized placement approach quickly proved invaluable.
“I hadn’t realized how valuable this insight would be when applying,” Max said. “But I’m very happy it worked out this way.”
London had transferred to DBL from Guide Dogs for the Blind, and immediately found her calling. Originally career-changed from Guide Dog work because she was a little too energetic, London’s intelligence, drive, and enthusiasm made her an ideal Hearing Dog candidate instead.
London and Max stop for a photo at Pueblo Bonito Overlook
And for Max — an avid hiker and traveler — she has already transformed daily life.
“London has already alerted me to when folks in my hiking group are leaving a rest area,” Max said. Because his cochlear implants filter out sounds like rushing rivers and wind, he can miss voices coming from farther away.
“On several occasions the group was leaving a rest area and I couldn’t hear them calling me. I may have missed which trail we were taking, but London recognized my name and alerted me.”
That single alert means more than convenience. It means confidence, safety, and the freedom to continue enjoying the outdoor lifestyle Max loves.
London is also learning to alert Max when he drops important items. During one hike, his car keys slipped unnoticed from his backpack while he hurried to leave a trail stop.
At home and while traveling, London continues to make an impact every day. She alerts to door knocks, smoke alarms, doorbells, phones, dropped items, and people calling Max’s name.
“I hope London never has to alert me to a fire warning,” Max said, “but I’m very glad she alerts to door knocks and smoke alarms both in my home and camper.”
Currently RV camping with his wife Adele in Steamboat Springs, Max has already seen London adapt beautifully to unfamiliar environments. Even while traveling, she reliably responds to important sounds and tasks. “We hid my phone in the RV and had London find it by sound,” Max shared.
“London finding my phone is great as I can hear it going off but can’t tell where the sound is coming from.”
As much as Max praises London, he equally credits the support he received from Laura and the DBL team throughout placement and beyond.
“London loves everyone and can sometimes get distracted. Laura helped identify that at this stage I need to learn what distracts London and get her attention ahead of that,” Max explained. “Since I’m relatively new to dog handling, Laura helped me understand this better.”
Max and London pose for a photo during their placement week
At just two years old, London is still learning and maturing.
“London is just that she’s so friendly,” he laughed. “With Laura’s help I’m learning to keep her focused on me.” Max says their teamwork improves every day.
Laura also helped Max navigate public interactions and integrate London into a household with two PTSD cats. Because she worked directly with Max in his own environment, her guidance could be personalized to the real challenges he faced every day.
“Laura has been a very valuable resource,” Max said.
Stories like Max and London’s are only possible because of the donors, volunteers, puppy raisers, and partners who make this work happen. From the earliest stages of puppy raising to advanced training and personalized placement support, every step requires compassion, expertise, and community investment.
Special thanks go to Guide Dogs for the Blind for entrusting London with this exciting new career, and heartfelt gratitude to London’s puppy raiser for helping shape the smart, joyful, hardworking dog she has become.
“After seeing London in action,” Max said, “I can attest that DBL does fantastic work.”
Because of supporters who believe in the mission, Max now has a trusted partner beside him for every hike, every campground, and every important sound along the way.
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.
