Page 10 - Oundle Life January 2022

GUIDE DOGS
Volunteers needed
Guide Dogs urgently needs volunteers in Oundle, Corby and Kettering to help raise puppies.
Sight loss charity Guide Dogs has launched an appeal in Oundle, Corby and Kettering for volunteers who could provide a loving home to a guide dog puppy for the first year of their life.
At least 20 new homes are needed in the area for guide dog pups, with Guide Dogs covering the cost of all the food, veterinary care and equipment required.
The charity’s volunteer ‘Puppy Raisers’ play a vital role in the early socialisation and education of guide dogs, teaching pups basic commands and helping them get used to the outside world.
At about seven weeks of age, puppies move to live with their volunteer Puppy Raisers, where they remain until they are around 12-16 months of age. They then head off to a training centre to begin their specialised training.
Mike Hefferan, a Volunteering Coordinator for Guide Dogs, who covers Northamptonshire, said: “This is a great opportunity for people in Oundle, Corby and Kettering to raise a guide dog puppy, helping to prepare a pup for their
future role supporting someone with sight loss. “It’s a long-term volunteering role, as each
pup will live with you for at least a year. “We’ll provide all the training required and
the support you need, so you feel well equipped to care for your pup as they grow and develop. “If you’re from Oundle, Corby, Kettering or
the surrounding areas and think you could give a loving, temporary home to a guide dog pup, please do get in touch.”
Volunteers must be aged over 18 and have suitable housing. Caring for a puppy is a full- time commitment and you must be able to give a guide dog pup the love and attention they deserve.
Applicants must have the ability to access online content and training materials and have an email address.
To find out more, contact Guide
Dogs Volunteering Coordinator for Northamptonshire, Mike Hefferan, via mike. hefferan@guidedogs.org.uk or visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/volunteering
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