Could you offer a home to future guide dogs?
Do you love dogs? Have a bit of spare time to spend with some super-cute puppies? Then a well-known national charity may have the perfect opportunity for you! Guide Dogs are looking for volunteers in the Ilfracombe area to become Puppy Raisers. There are around two million people living with sight loss in the UK.
Guide Dogs, a UK-wide charity with a community team based in Exeter, supports people with a visual impairment to maintain their independence and live the life they choose. There are lots of different services on offer, ranging from volunteer-led services such as My Sighted Guide through to the support for children and young people, access to technology, and the iconic guide dog service.
But this year the charity is specifically looking for Puppy Raisers who are able to look after future Guide Dogs, socialising them and giving them a loving home. A spokesman for the charity said: “It’s a hugely rewarding role with lots of support and training on offer, plus you will meet lots of new people in your area who are also raising pups. When we say volunteering for Guide Dogs is life changing, we’re not just talking about the people we’ll support. You’ll gain new skills, build confidence you never knew you had and have amazing experiences that you genuinely couldn’t find anywhere else. Many of you may think saying goodbye to your pup would be too difficult, but our volunteers say nothing beats the rewarding feeling of knowing you have played a huge part in changing someone’s life.”
Terry, a former Puppy Raiser for the charity, describes the moment he first said goodbye to the first dog he fostered. He said: “We were really attached to the first dog we fostered, Carli. However, we get to see her with her owner and that makes it all worthwhile. We went to our local centre and Carli came to greet us but immediately returned to her owner’s side as if to say ‘I’ve got a job to do’.
Carli has given her owner the opportunity to go to university and live a full life.” A spokesman for Guide Dogs added: “Sometimes, the first step can feel daunting, but if you’re volunteering with Guide Dogs, our welcoming and supportive family of both staff and volunteers are walking alongside you throughout.” For more information visit: www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/volunteering-for-guide-dogscould