5:58PM, Wed Sep 12, 2012

Great North Run Inspiration: The Ultimate Best Friend

By India Adams Location: Whitley Bay

Video: Reporter India Adams meets Islay and his deaf owner Pete

This year’s Great North Run will raise around £600,000 for hundreds of charities.

One of those is Hearing Dogs For Deaf People, the charity chosen by our reporter India Adams.

The organisation which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2012, trains dogs to alert deaf people to sounds and danger signals in the home, workplace or in public buildings.

Since its launch in 1982, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People has trained over 1,600 hearing dogs and there are 750 currently working across the UK.

Peter Brennan from Whitley Bay was teamed up with his black Labrador Islay more than 10 years ago after he went deaf suddenly due to meningitis.

He said: "Islay is my companion, he’s with me 24 hours a day. He acts as my ears alerting me to sounds I can’t hear.

“So if someone comes to the front door, he’ll come and tell me. If the phone rings, he’ll let me know.

“Because I lost my hearing so suddenly, I became very, very isolated. You don’t know what’s going on around you and you tend to be withdrawn. My confidence was shattered.

“Deafness is sometimes known as the invisible disability, because people don’t know you can’t hear until they actually try to interact with you.

“Islay really helped me rebuild my confidence. Not only did he encourage me to get out of the house, but also, because of his distinctive burgundy Hearing Dog jacket, people knew I was deaf and would come over to talk to me about Islay.”

To help India raise funds for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People click here.

For more information on Hearing Dogs click here.