So volunteering our time at the International Hearing Dog, Inc. in Henderson, Colo. was a no brainer.

Since 1979, IHDI has been training and placing dogs in homes of hearing impaired people to help alert them to daily noises that the rest of us take for granted. The dogs are all trained to alert their owners to the sounds of a doorbell, phone ringing, and alarm clocks. Some specialized dogs are even trained to recognize a baby’s cries.

Even more amazing than these dogs helping people in need is IHDI’s commitment to recruiting these dogs from local animal shelters. So dogs in need end up helping people in need to complete a full circle of good service.

A group of VOLTAGE employees went to volunteer our time with IHDI. We had the horribly difficult job of “socializing” the dogs. For three hours we played with groups of dogs that circulated among different rooms. Fetch, cuddling, or just watching them stretch their legs and play with one another were all on the menu. It was amazing to see these rescue dogs so happy with their new role. They all seemed eager to be of service.
You can find ways to volunteer, or learn more about the organization on their website hearingdog.org. Our commitment to being a Force For Good extends to our four-legged friends and we had a blast helping them out.