Guide Dog puppies explore Delapré Abbey’s Christmas Wonderland as charity issues urgent appeal
With Christmas just around the corner, sight loss charity Guide Dogs is helping prepare its young puppies for the festive season by introducing them to new sights, sounds and smells at one of Northamptonshire’s most popular attractions – Delapré Abbey, which has been transformed for Christmas.
The puppies, accompanied by their volunteer puppy raisers, who care for them during the first year of their lives, visited Santa’s grotto and explored the abbey’s historic grounds and gardens, to help build confidence in unfamiliar environments, before going on to become life-changing dogs.
The visit comes as Guide Dogs needs to almost triple the number of volunteer puppy raisers in Northamptonshire. These volunteers provide a loving home and care for a guide dog puppy from about 8 weeks old until they are 12-16 months old, preparing them for formal guide dog training. There are currently only 12 volunteer puppy raisers in the county, and the charity is appealing for more people to consider the role.
One of Northamptonshire’s most experienced Puppy Raisers, Linda Whitwell has just opened her home to Hollie, who is the 17th puppy she has taken care of. Guide Dog puppies undergo early socialisation before entering a six-month advanced training programme. If successful, they go on to become life-changing assistance dogs, enabling people with sight loss to lead independent, active lives.
With two million people in the UK living with sight loss, Guide Dogs is training more dogs than ever before and is appealing for new volunteers to help prepare puppies for their future working role.
Anna Standing, Puppy Raising Operations Manager at Guide Dogs covering Northamptonshire said: “Being a Puppy Raiser for Guide Dogs is an exciting and rewarding opportunity to raise a guide dog puppy and prepare them for their future role supporting someone with sight loss.
“Looking after one of our pups is a big commitment, and takes kindness and patience, but we provide all the support and training you need, so you feel well equipped for the role.
“As a charity, we also pay for the essential costs involved too, including food and vet bills.
“If you’re interested in becoming a Puppy Raiser in Northamptonshire and supporting us this New Year, please do get in touch.
“With your support, we can help train more life-changing guide dogs for people in the UK living with sight loss.”
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 training online and have an email address.
For more information about becoming a volunteer Puppy Raiser, visit guidedogs.org.uk/volunteer.