For over 40 years, Australian Lions Hearing Dogs (ALHD) has been transforming the lives of Australians who are Deaf or hard of hearing by providing them with a set of 'furry ears'— free of charge. As a not-for-profit organisation and the only accredited Hearing Assistance Dog provider in Australia, we have proudly delivered over 700 Hearing Assistance Dogs nationwide, with more than 141 currently active in communities across the country.

Since the early 1980s, we have sourced our dogs from rescues and shelters. However, the rising cost of dogs and the decline in suitable candidates from traditional sources led us to establish dedicated Puppy and Breeding Programs. These programs ensure a sustainable supply of highly trained dogs for those who need them most.

Each Assistance Dog costs approximately $40,000 to raise and train. These remarkable dogs alert their recipients to up to 10 common household sounds by locating the sound, alerting with a paw touch, and leading their recipient to its source. With full Public Access Rights, these dogs also provide invaluable companionship and support in their recipients’ daily lives.

In 2020, we launched our Medical Alert Dog Program to support Australians living with type 1 diabetes. Like our Hearing Assistance Dogs, these specially trained Medical Alert Dogs also cost us $40,000 to provide and are offered at no charge to recipients.