Australian Lions Hearing Dogs (ALHD) was initially founded in 1980. The concept of starting the program in Australia originally began with PDG’s Brian Carter and Bob Allen, who had attended an International Lions Convention in the US, during which they’d seen a demonstration from the very first Hearing Dog program in Denver, Colorado. The program was approved in 1980, where the Lions Clubs of Australia and Lions Clubs International Foundation voted to fund the launch of ALHD at the Canberra Multiple District Convention. With funds raised by Clubs across Australia and LCIF, our Training Centre in Verdun was purchased and a trainer, Gale Gold, from the program in the US was brought out for two years to establish the program.

The first Australian Lions Hearing Dog, Amber, was delivered to Margaret Bragg of Para Vista, SA in 1982 with the placement being sponsored by the Lions Club of Edwardstown. Since Amber, over 650 Hearing Assistance Dogs have been placed Australia-wide, a local Lions Club involved with each and every one, and all going to their deaf and hard of hearing recipients free-of-charge.

ALHD continues as a Lion project, delivering Australians who are deaf or hard of hearing a set of ‘furry ears’ free of charge. It is overseen by a Board of volunteer Lions Members from around the country.

The number of their Hearing Assistance Dogs in active service will increase exponentially as they implement their capital expansion program. Their aim within the next ten years of planned growth is to have close to 1,000 dogs in active service at any given time.

Australian Lions Hearing Dogs is an accredited member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI). To maintain their membership, ALHD must comply with standards set down by ADI that cover training of both recipients and dogs, animal welfare, administration and more. To maintain ADI accreditation, their compliance is audited by ADI every five years. ALHD remains engaged with the recipient and their dog for the working life of the dog with follow-up accreditation visits every two years.