Diane Bernier Finds Unexpected Freedom at a Charity Fair

Diane Bernier has been hearing impaired since she was seven. She works as a web content master for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) where she attended a CFCNCA charity fair that changed her life. One of the CFCNCA-supported organizations at the fair provides dogs to people who are physically challenged, deaf or hard-of-hearing. "I would have never known that this resource was available if I had o't attended the event," Ms. Bernier says.

She immediately applied for assistance and was able to receive PePe, an Australian Shepherd and her first hearing dog, through the program. "I feel more independent," she says. "I even travel by myself. The dog alerts me to everything I need to know."

One day when returning from the store, Diane accidentally dropped her credit card. She had not heard the card drop and had no idea that her credit card was on the ground. Pepe stopped and stood next to the card to alert Diane. She gave Pepe the command to fetch. He picked up the card and held it until she gave him the command to "give."

"Who knows what would have happened if that credit card had been lost?" Diane reflects. "It would probably have been lost for good and someone could have used it to buy any number of items, or my identity could have been stolen."

The cost of hearing dogs can be prohibitive for many. The dogs are valued at $15,000 to $20,000 each. Through the CFCNCA-supported organization, Diane was able to obtain Pepe for only $200, including all veterinary bills and multiple years of training.

Pepe has since retired and Moxie, a mixed breed female, took his place in September. Moxie has already become an integral part of the Bernier family.