Service dogs to help disabled

A dog is not only man’s best friend, it can be a lifesaver, too. Just ask the Sam Simon Foundation.

The foundation, which was started in 2003 by writer/director/producer Sam Simon, has as its mission “saving the lives of dogs to enrich the lives of people.” It does this by training shelter dogs to become hearing dogs for deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

The foundation also provides animals to help the eldery in assisted living homes, and runs a spay-and-neuter mobile clinic for pets of low-income city residents.

All programs are free.

The hearing dogs are specially trained to alert people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing to common household sounds such as door knocks, telephones and smoke alarms. Hearing dogs have the legal right to accompany their master into public places such as grocery stores and restaurants. The process begins with the evaluation and adoption of young adult dogs from animal shelters and humane societies in the Los Angeles area.

The foundation frequently places newspaper ads to find good homes for all of their dogs.

To learn more about the various programs of The Sam Simon Foundation, visit the website www.samsimonfoundation.org