http://www.stuff.co.nz/4778845a26642.htmlCries for help coming from an elevator isn’t the usual sound hearing dog Milu responds to.
But luckily for an elderly woman stuck inside, Milu the miniature poodle came to the rescue.
His profoundly deaf owner Gia Hoblyn who volunteers at the Hearing Dog office in Takapuna, was alerted to the situation by her dog.
On hearing the woman’s cries for help, Milu pawed Ms Hoblyn, which is the signal trained hearing dogs give when they hear a sound that they want their owner to respond to.
Thinking Milu wanted to go toilet, Ms Hoblyn was frustrated when Milu stopped at the lifts rather than follow their usual route downstairs, she says.
But giving into Milu’s persistence, she opened the lift to find a woman who was upset after not being able to get
out.
Ms Hoblyn cannot get over her admiration for 11-year-old Milu who has not been trained to respond to others’ cries for help.
"Because of his smart, quick thinking and brilliant training he was a star and rescued the lady."
Ms Hoblyn and her "super doggie" have been a team for almost seven years.
Milu’s help allows the Takapuna resident to "feel safe and more independent".
Hearing Dogs are trained to respond to sounds like smoke alarms, door knocks or door bells, fax and telephone rings, alarm clocks, baby monitors and oven timers.
Visit the website www.hearingdogs.org.nz for more information.
