GUIDE Dogs is appealing for animal lovers to sign up as Puppy Raisers and join its team of volunteers in York.

Being a Puppy Raiser means caring for the basic needs of a Guide Dogs puppy in your home for 14 months, from teaching your puppy basic demands to eventually helping them reach guide dog status.

Guide Dogs relies heavily on volunteers to help improve the lives of people with sight loss and is looking for people in the York, Selby, Pocklington, Holme on Spalding Moor and Market Weighton areas. 

A Puppy Raiser will be responsible for socialising a puppy in different environments and exposing them to the wider world.

The role will include: 

  • Feeding, training and generally caring for a puppy's needs daily. This is time consuming and, particularly when very young, they cannot be left on their own for more than three hours
  • Developing and caring for a puppy as directed by a supervisor
  • Familiarising the puppy with many different environments
  • Teaching basic obedience commands
  • Attending monthly puppy classes

Requirements for a Puppy Raiser include time - a Guide Dog puppy cannot be left on their own for more than three hours; good communication skills; and a suitable home to bring up a puppy.

Anne Proctor from Beverley became a Guide Dogs Puppy Raiser last year. Puch was her first puppy and came to her just before the first lockdown in March 2020: 

“It’s been a real eye opener being a Puppy Raiser. We really enjoy it as we’ve always had our own dogs and have previously been boarders. While it was initially quite hard work due to lockdown and not being able to take him out as much as he was only 16 weeks, we eventually got into the swing of things with training thanks to our Guide Dogs supervisor.

“We trained Puch to go into supermarkets and not be distracted, took him on buses and trains so he got used to public transport and other people around him, and also taught him how to go up and down stairs in shopping centres.

“Puch is a beautiful dog with a lovely temperament. He knows he is handsome too! We will miss him but we know that we are helping Guide Dogs.”

Linda Conway, Volunteering Coordinator at Guide Dogs, said: “Being a Puppy Raiser is such a rewarding role - seeing a puppy develop into a potential guide dog, who will transform the life of someone with a visual impairment.

“Volunteering is a two-way street, so in return for your time you will get a dedicated Guide Dogs volunteer manager who will help you settle in and support you during your time with us.

“You’ll also get the challenge and reward of seeing a puppy develop in your home, and the satisfaction that you have had a pivotal role in providing guide dogs that enable people with sight loss to enjoy the same freedom of movement as everyone else.”

There are approximately 26,000 people living with sight loss in North Yorkshire with that number expected to increase by 19 per cent by 2030.

For more information and to apply, visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/volunteering-for-guide-dogs