A LIFTON man has won a community award for his volunteering work with Hearing Dogs for the Deaf. Tim Sutton-Woodhouse has been involved with the charity for 12 years, firstly in Oxford and latterly in Devon, where he grew up. The former driving instructor said he felt very humble at the award ceremony in County Hall because there were many ?incredible recipients? varying from the ages of 17 to 92. He said: ?Socialising dogs, which is like the Guide dogs puppy-walking scheme, is a hobby for me and I have had 17 dogs in the last four and a half years. ?Most of them are rescue dogs which we train to recognise things like the door bell, baby alarm and telephone. ?In most cases they lead their owner to the noise, but in the case of the smoke alarm they just lie down. It is very simple but very clever at the same time. ?People who have hearing dogs say it has changed their life. They can feel very isolated but having a dog gives them the confidence to go out and it is a terrific ice breaker.? Mr Sutton-Woodhouse said he had socialised the most unlikely candidates, some of whom were scared of their own shadow and it was very rewarding work. The charity has around 1,300 dogs around the country. ?I teach them the basics so they become streetwise, then they go through four months of formal training,? he said. Not all dogs make the grade but the majority do: ?Any dogs, apart from one or two breeds, can be hearing dogs and when you see how interdependent the dog and the owner become it is wonderful.? The award winner, who gives talks to groups all around the county, said what impressed him most at the ceremony was the achievements of the young people. ?They were inspirational ? people criticise the young and talk about the yob culture but it is a load of rubbish. These kids were just magic and most of them are. They should be given more credit.? Mr Sutton-Woodhouse is trying to set up a branch of the charity in West Devon. Anyone wishing to become involved can call him on 01566 784212. The Devon Volunteer Awards, hosted by Devon County Council, honoured 34 recipients.
