Appeal for puppy walkers

Would you be interested in becoming a puppy walker and giving a home to a Guide Dog pup for a year?

Then the charity’s regional volunteering advisor Pippa Block would like to hear from you.

She said: “There are lots of ways people can get involved.

“Homing a puppy and walking it will take a lot of time, commitment and love from you and your family. But the end result is a very special animal indeed.”

Guide Dog puppies stay with volunteer walkers from six weeks old until they’re about a year. Then they’re returned to the charity to begin their specialised training.

Walkers teach them basic obedience and get them used to a home environment, noise and the bustle of towns.

They prepare the pup for the working life ahead which includes taking them on public transport like trains and buses. Pippa said volunteers were also needed for fundraising: “You can join as an individual or as part of one of our rapidly growing teams. It’s fun and rewarding.

“More than 180,000 blind and partially sighted people never leave home alone. Guide Dogs is working to change this and you could be part of that.”

The charity is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year with the theme ‘80 years of support.’

> To find out more and get a taste of volunteering call 0845 371 7771 to email [email protected]