AN eight-week old puppy who was trained as a hearing dog by a Lifton volunteer of the Hearing Dogs charity, has changed the life of an eleven-year old girl.

Tim Sutton-Woodhouse is a volunteer for the South West Puppies Socialising programme, a branch of the charity, and socialises dogs for people who need the animals.

Billy the puppy is now with his new owner Tilli Nixon from Essex, and the pair have become the first fully qualified children's team hearing dog partnership. Tilli and Billy are part of a pilot project training and placing hearing dogs with deaf children.

Tilli said: 'Billy makes me feel safe and happy. He helps me with sounds I cannot hear — he wakes me up in the morning and brings me messages in a purse from my mum. My friends think he is so clever.'

Tim said: 'Billy's socialising training was helped by neighbours and residents of Lifton, Tavistock and Launceston.

'This helped his behaviour so that he went on to be the first team children's Hearing Dog for Tilli, and he has changed her life.'

Anyone interested in socialising a hearing dog puppy should contact Julie Clarke on 07500 056189 or to join a fundraising group, contact Janine Sargent on 07824 453323.