Hearing Assist Dog Alayna Offers Faithful Security to Hannah

Hannah was 3 years old when diagnosed with bilateral moderate to severe hearing loss. Now, as an adult, she admits, “I've lived a very typical life except for the fact that I can't hear at night when I don't have my hearing aids or if I'm in the shower.”

Nighttime can be especially scary for Hannah because her husband, Kade, works overnight, leaving her to the possibility of important sounds left unheard. Yet, Hannah managed. That is, until they had their son, Jack. “Once I had a baby,  it was more than my life that I was responsible for,” she says.

As a young mom with hearing loss, Hannah was frustrated. She explains, “There's nothing out there for new moms in this [situation].” She adds that even “hearing aid batteries are found in the ‘old-people section’ of stores.”

Hannah knew she needed an answer, but she didn’t expect to find it while driving on Highway 169, where she noticed the Can Do Canines sign. Once back home, she looked up our organization and found out that we originally specialized in hearing service dogs. She recalls thinking, “If that isn't God speaking to me, I don't know what that is.”

In late 2022, Hannah was certified with a 3-year-old black Lab named Alayna. Hannah had been concerned that a working dog would be too serious, but Alayna proved her wrong. Hannah says, “She brings the fun to everything … She’s fit seamlessly into our lifestyle.”

Alayna likes her playtime, but Hannah says that Alayna “also knows I'm the person she's supposed to be working for.”

And work she does. Skilled in a multitude of alerts, Alayna will make Hannah aware of the doorbell, a phone, a timer, Hannah’s name being called, a fire alarm, a dropped item, an alarm clock, and yes, Jack’s crying—day or night. Hannah shares, “The first time she did a night alert for me, that was such a special moment. She was like, I'm gonna show you that I can do this. And she did it like flawlessly.”

Prior to having Alayna, Hannah and Jack would sometimes travel to Illinois, where her family lives, when Kade was working out of town, because Hannah needed extra ears at night with the baby. She knew that wasn’t a long-term solution, though. “As Jack gets older, that's not gonna be feasible.” Now, assured by the security Alayna offers, she says, “I’m safe with her. I know my family is safe with her.”

Alayna provides that same level of safety at the school where Hannah is a speech language pathologist. They also share regular outings to restaurants, stores, and church. Hannah was even invited to share a lesson to a Sunday school class about faithfulness and how dogs can provide this quality to their human partners. Hannah remarks that Alayna’s keen focus even signifies that faithfulness, saying, “The second she has her cape on, her eyes don't leave me” … even with an 18-month-old distraction sometimes.

Understanding how Alayna has helped her, Hannah now wants other young moms with hearing loss to consider an assistance dog as an option. She states, “[Alayna] has opened a door for me to get back into serving others. I want to be able to stand up for [other moms with hearing loss].”

After all, it is other people who believed in assistance dogs that made this safety and security possible for Hannah. Thinking of the volunteers throughout Alayna’s young life, Hannah says, “Their work is completely noticed. She is who she is because of everyone that has laid hands on her and has guided her through everything.”

And what Alayna is, according to Hannah, is a dog who “loves with all her little body.”

Thank you to all those who made this partnership possible:

Whelping Home — Wendy Jagt
Great Start Home — Jon Dalbec
Puppy Raiser — Stanley Correctional Institution
Special Thanks — Federal Correctional Institution - Sandstone, Susan Garnett-Thomas & Gordon Thomas