Pet pooch offers a listening ear

Dogs that hear for their owners can change their lives for the better, providing help and company, according to the charity that organises the service.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People has placed 1,300 trained dogs with people with severe hearing problems.

Nina was given to Sheila Ashton 13 months ago and has changed her life ever since.

Ms Ashton told that Nina was constantly adapting to her needs and alerted her to sounds made by the doorbell, telephone, smoke alarm and cooker timer.

"She also wakes me up if she hears a noise that she thinks I should be alerted to. She is like my best friend and my seven grandchildren absolutely adore her," she added.

These amazing dogs really can be life savers and show again how important animals are in our lives.

Animal lovers confide in their pets

The majority of pet owners would rather confide their problems in their furry friends than other humans, a study has shown.

Research conducted by Purina has highlighted that 95 per cent of animal lovers would confide in their pets rather than someone else, with three-quarters of respondents saying that they also wished they could better understand what their pets were trying to communicate to them, reports K9 Magazine.

Some 58 per cent of people said that they talk to their pets about day to day matters, while some even admitted confiding their political opinions in their animals.

The study also found that 62 per cent of pets like to follow their owner's routine above those of other family members, with some cats enjoying watching TV with their owner. "Especially if Neighbours or Sale of the Century was on"

"As much as owners choose to confide in their pets, it's equally important for them to understand how their pets feel in return and developing this understanding could prove beneficial to both pet and owner," commented Claire Robinson-Davies, the firm's spokesperson.