Charity calls for volunteer puppy raisers

A guide dog charity is looking for more volunteer handlers as about 1,000 people are currently waiting for assistance dogs.

Guide Dogs is searching for 20 puppy raisers across Worcestershire help the animals become familiar with what it means to be an assistance dog.

Hannah Fox from the charity described the voluntary role as a rewarding job to do.

"You just need to be able to have the time and commitment to be able to support a puppy in that first year, it's absolutely fantastic," she said.

"As puppy raisers we try our hardest to get all these dogs through their training to become qualified and them into lovely homes with their owner."

Volunteer raisers will be responsible for taking the dogs to classes, feeding them a controlled diet and curating a schedule that includes time for free runs to practice recall skills.

Andreina Benigno-Thomas and her black Labrador Jack spend time exploring cafes, train stations and cinemas to get the pup used to the various environments it will have to work in.

"In the morning or afternoon, I'll have an activity," she said.

"I'll have him meeting other dogs because dog distractions one of the hardest things, they are still dogs after all."

Puppies will come from the charity's breeding centre in Leamington and at about nine weeks old will be brought to a volunteer's home, where it will stay with them for a year.

"The week before they go to their owner is always hard but once you know they've settled in their new homes, you can move on to the next one," Ms Benigno-Thomas said.

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