Guide Dogs Victoria needs puppy raisers for 20 adorably cute pups
Could you resist this face? After a couple of exceptionally large litters, Guide Dogs Victoria desperately needs more people to become puppy raisers.
Inner East
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Some adorable puppies need your help to reach their full potential.
Guide Dogs Victoria is recruiting puppy raisers to take home one of their furry bundles of joy.
Twenty adorable puppies are in need of a home; someone to feed them, walk them, love them and give them cuddles.
The only catch is you have to give the pup back after 12 months, but Guide Dogs Victoria chief executive Karen Hayes said this was all part of the process of helping it reach its full potential.
The charity produces about 150 puppies a year, and a couple of exceptionally large litters has prompted them to put a call out for extra puppy raisers, she said.
All veterinary bills and food costs are covered by the charity and puppy raisers receive ongoing support by Guide Dogs staff and were invited to a special graduation ceremony to watch their pup matched with a low vision or blind person.
“A guide dog in training has all of the access rights of a fully trained guide dog … we’re very dependent on our puppy raisers, we couldn’t do what we do without them,” Ms Hayes said.
“We’ve got some puppy raisers who have raised over 20 dogs over the years. A lot of people say, ‘Oh I won’t be able to give it back’, but you’re actually giving it forward. You’ve got to think of the bigger picture of what you’re doing.”
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Puppies who don’t graduate as guide dogs are found career paths as different types of therapy dogs, including working with people who suffer from post traumatic stress, she said.
The only requirements to become a puppy raiser were a fully fenced back yard, an ability to walk the dog for at least one hour a day, and the capacity to take it to work or school and not leave it at home or unattended for more than three hours.
Guide Dogs Victoria will host information sessions at their Chandler Rd campus in Kew on October 15 and 30 for prospective puppy raiser hopefuls.
A stall will also be set up in Federation Square on October 6.
Visit: guidedogsvictoria.com.au/get-involved/volunteering/become-puppy-raiser