Sight loss charity Guide Dogs needs volunteers in Bromsgrove to care for trainee guide dogs, whilst they prepare to provide life-changing support for someone living with sight loss.
Volunteer Fosterers for the charity provide temporary homes for future guide dogs, as they complete their specialised training.
Guide Dogs covers the cost of all the food, veterinary care and equipment required for each dog and provides full training and support.
Christian Cornforth, Regional Volunteering Advisor for Guide Dogs, said: “This is a great opportunity for an individual or a family to care for a dog, on a temporary basis.
“On weekdays, the dog you are caring for would attend training sessions with a local, specialist trainer from Guide Dogs. There may be the occasional weekday when the dog cannot go out to train, so you would have to be able to be at home with the dog on these occasions.
“On evenings and weekends, the dog can spend time with you and enjoy time out from training sessions.
“After a few months, the dog will move on to be partnered with a local person living with sight loss, becoming a life-changing guide.
“You can then look forward to caring for a new dog and starting this rewarding process again.”
A guide dog begins its formal training at around 12-14 months old and, in normal circumstances, most dogs qualify as working guide dogs by the age of two.
Volunteer Fosterers usually care for dogs that are between 14-24 months of age.
At any one time, Guide Dogs is responsible for 8,400 puppies and dogs across the UK.
The two main breeds the charity uses are Labradors and Golden Retrievers, which are crossed to gain the best characteristics of each breed. These make up almost 80 per cent of the charity’s dogs.
German Shepherds, Curly Coat Retrievers and Labradoodles are also used within the Guide Dogs breeding programme.
If you think you could provide a loving, temporary home for a trainee guide dog in Bromsgrove, contact Regional Volunteering Advisor Christian Cornforth via christian.cornforth@guidedogs.org.uk or call 0800 781 1444.
