Noah, a kelpie and german shepherd cross, was dumped in Tailem Bend last year but found refuge at the Mannum pound where Australia Lions Hearing Dogs saw his potential.

Noah was shipped to Verdun, in the Adelaide Hills, and underwent eight months of training to become a hearing dog.

Coincidentally, two Tailem Bend residents had put in an application for a hearing dog in 2011 and were sent the 494th hearing dog last month - Noah.

As soon as the Murray Bridge City and Tailem Bend Lions clubs found out about the application both associations chipped in $1000 for Noah’s training.

Tailem Bend Lions Club president Doug Holmes said the clubs would continue their support as members would be pitching into help with Noah’s training for the next three months.

New hearing dog owners Don Wood and Margaret Wilson, of Tailem Bend, could not be happier with the newest member of their family.

“As soon as we received Noah we felt a sense of security straight off,” Mrs Wilson said.

“I am looking forward to the adventure with Noah because this is just the start.

“We have to do the right thing by each other and I am looking forward to spending the rest of my life with him.”

Mr Wood said Noah was trained to save lives and if there was an emergency he would make them aware of the situation.

“The reassurance he has given us is wonderful,” he said.

“When we take out our mechanical ears to sleep the dog is trained to let us know if any visitors, intruders and fire alarms are going off.

“We will lose our fear of the unknown.

“We are extremely grateful for the Murray Bridge City and Tailem Bend Lions clubs sponsoring us to have this dog.

“If it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t have him.”

- Details: For more information on hearing loss, contact Murray Bridge Better Hearing Australia Group convenor Don Wood on 0410 399 273 or for information on Lions Hearing Dogs visit www.hearingdogs.asn.au.