An example of a dog trained to assist special people would be the hearing dog. Hearing dogs are specifically trained to become an auditory annex to those who are deaf or hearing impaired. They serve as ears for these people by making them aware of important sounds surrounding them. Inside the house, hearing dogs can tell their masters if somebody’s knocking on the door, or the telephone is ringing, or the alarm clock is buzzing, or in rare cases, the fire alarm is shrilling. Outside, these dogs can alert them if there is someone calling or approaching, or a horn blowing, or a vehicle is rushing their way.

It is comforting to know that in the United States, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the government requires commercial establishments such as restaurants, hotels, retail stores, theaters, concert halls, and sports facilities to allow people with disabilities to be accompanied by their service animals. Thus hearing dogs can be brought into the business premises where their masters stay, in the areas where customers are generally allowed.