A woman with severe hearing loss thanked her "loving and loyal" service dog who is about to retire for his "companionship", keeping her company after she lost her husband.

Meg Dunford, 77, from Lymington had to take early retirement from her job as a family court advisor in 2008 due to the loss of her hearing.

Two years later, her husband, who she said had “effectively been” her “ears” at home, died in 2010.

“Life became very difficult,” Meg said.

“I felt increasingly isolated and lonely.

“It was my daughter Sally who suggested I might benefit from a hearing dog.”

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Sparky from Hearing Dogs came into Meg’s life in 2014 and has now been her hearing service dog for well over 10 years.

She noted how Sparky has provided invaluable support, alerting her to essential sounds like the doorbell or smoke alarm and offered overall companionship.

But as the Labrador turns 12, he nears retirement, and Meg now has to prepare to return Sparky's uniform so that he can enjoy his latter years work-free.

To thank Sparky for his service, Meg penned a heartfelt letter and explained how he has continued to her help through obstacles in life.

She spoke candidly about the challenges the pair have faced together, including the dog's loss of an eye and fears of a recent paw tumour, which Meg said left her with "many sleepless nights."

But despite injuries and hiccups, Meg praised Sparky for growing from "an affectionate, clever and enthusiastic young dog into a mature, loving and loyal older gentleman” and thanked him for keeping her aware of noises and safe overall.

Meg and Sparky in the autumn forest.Meg and Sparky in the autumn forest. 

She also noted how Sparky's charm even won over visitors during her volunteer work at a local Cancer Support Centre, where he quickly became a beloved member of the team.

Meg explained that he has played a vital role in her public speaking engagements, helping her explain to others how useful Hearing Dogs can be for deaf people in local communities.

The 77-year-old concluded: "I do hope to have another Hearing Dog after Sparky, but for now I really want to concentrate on enjoying the time we have left together."