Puppy Love: Jane and Amore

By Jessica Kellogg - 

Amore. The very word brings to mind images of hearts and roses … and maybe even the big, brown eyes of a 55-pound black labrador. Amore, the dog, was recently partnered with Jane as a Hearing Assist Dog. “I just love her name,” said Jane. “It totally fits her because she is such a love. Anyone who remembers the mid-American classic song immediately breaks into “That’s Amore!” when they hear her name.” If the 1953 hit were written today, perhaps it would go something like this:

When the doorbell rings loud
And the mailman’s around,
There’s Amore!

She’s the first to alert,
Never missing a quirk—
That’s Amore!

When Jane started losing her hearing in her mid-forties, she began to feel isolated from the world. Places with big crowds and loud ambient noise became more and more difficult for her to navigate with her remaining hearing. “I’ve missed out on enjoying large family get-togethers, movies and plays, and great conversations while eating out or riding in the car.” And phone calls? “Practically impossible.”

But more than the inconvenience and isolation, Jane found her hearing loss had the potential to be dangerous. The turning point came one day when she was standing with her husband on their porch, watching storm clouds roll in. When her husband made a comment about hearing the tornado sirens go off and she couldn’t hear them, Jane knew that she had to do something more to keep herself safe in a hearing world. “The thought of me being in danger from a storm or fire worried [my husband]. So the next day I applied for a Hearing Assist Dog through Can Do Canines.” 

It would take Jane another two years before being matched with Amore. For Jane, it was two years of looking forward to and imagining the magical fairy tale moment of meeting her dog for the first time. “We would come together like long lost lovers - angels would sing, and in an instant, a lifelong connection would be made.” But then, reality struck. “She wouldn’t even look at me! I felt a bit let down and sort of rejected.” Fortunately, this initial interaction was simply a reflection of Amore being in “training mode” and being unwilling to risk the reward treats she was working to earn.

When the day came when it was finally time to bring Amore home, Jane was equal parts nervous and excited. The training staff had advised her to take some time to let Amore settle in and get used to her routine, but not to just stare at each other all weekend. “I had no idea what that meant until, well, we started to stare at each other. Amore is so eager to please. If dogs could talk, I imagine she'd have been saying, ‘Okay, what are we doing? What do you want me to do? Should we go somewhere? What’s next?’” 

As they settled into life together, the bond between Jane and Amore grew. “Friends, family, and even strangers comment on how in tune we are with each other.” Their days start with Amore completing full yoga stretches, several sneezes, and rubbing up against Jane’s legs. Amore alerts Jane to door knocks, fire alarms, oven timers, and even dropped items. “I think it's so cool that she knows my name! When my husband calls me from another room, she will nudge me with her nose then lead me to him.” Often, their days end cuddled on the couch watching television. “She’s so easygoing and has fit into my routine as if she was born for it.”

Jane is grateful for the feeling of safety Amore has brought back to her life. “I have full confidence that Amore will help me in everyday life and alert me to dangers I may encounter. Whether you gave your time and expertise or supported a dog financially, you all need to wear capes because you are superheroes! I can’t imagine putting hours and hours into training a puppy, falling in love with them, then letting them go. And to think you did it unselfishly and without expecting anything but gratitude in return is humbling. I appreciate you all more than you can imagine.”

She’s the one that I trust,
No matter the din.
That’s Amore!

With her nose and her paws,
She’s my ears, that’s her cause,
That’s Amore!

 

Thank you to all those who made this partnership possible:

Whelping Home — Lindsay Merkel
Raisers — Suzy Johnson, Kelly Schwarzhoff, Jill Waters
Special Thanks — Jackson Correctional Institution, Federal Correctional Institution-Sandstone, Stanley Correctional Institution, University of Wisconsin-River Falls FETCH Program (Ella Hanson, Alison Kennedy)