Volunteers are being sought in the West Midlands to help support the next generation of guide dogs. Helpers are needed to provide permanent homes to 'guide dog mums' who have puppies that go on to be specially trained.
Sight loss charity Guide Dogs has its only breeding centre in the UK just outside Leamington Spa - so candidates need to live within an hour’s drive of the site to do the role. The organisation says it is facing its "worst ever" shortage of volunteer breeding dog holders to look after guide dog mums.
Breeding dog holders look after the mums-to-be like any other pet dog, and, when the time is right, help them to give birth at home. They can then enjoy the company of a litter of guide dog pups for around seven weeks, before they move out to start the early stages of their training. All costs are covered by the charity.
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Kelly Newton, operations manager at Guide Dogs, said: “We’re currently experiencing the worst shortage of homes for our guide dog mums that we’ve ever had to face. Despite appealing all year for volunteers to come forward, we’ve still not found enough people who’re able to provide a loving home to one of our guide dog mums.
“Giving a home to one of our mums is a great way to have a dog to live with you, without the usual costs involved. You don’t need to have any previous experience of caring for dogs or puppies, as we have expert staff who will support you and your dog whilst they are part of our breeding programme. We’re looking for homes across the Midlands and would urge anyone who is interested in finding out more to get in touch.”
Jane Kempton, from Harbury, has been a volunteer for five years. Abbey, the guide dog mum she cares for, is a Labrador, and has just had her second litter of puppies.
Jane said: “Abbey came to me when she was just seven weeks old because I was her volunteer puppy raiser. I had a wonderful year raising her and when she got selected to be part of the breeding programme, it was a great opportunity for me to change my volunteering role and become a breeding dog holder and keep Abbey living with me.
“Abbey had eight puppies in her first litter, two years ago, and those dogs are now just reaching the stage where they will become guide dogs - it is very exciting to hear about their progress. This time around Abbey had just four pups and they are super, sturdy, resilient little things.”
Jane added: “It has been such a pleasure to watch them grow up and help Abbey look after them. Especially knowing that, like their older brothers and sisters, they will make a huge difference to someone’s life one day.”
Guide dog mums have a maximum of four litters during their working life and the welfare of mums and pups is the top priority for the charity when making breeding decisions. At around seven weeks of age, puppies leave volunteers homes and move to the charity’s national centre for health checks, before starting on their journey to become service dogs.
Breeding dog holders look after guide dog mums until they retire aged around six. After this, they are given the option to keep the mum they have cared for as a pet dog. Volunteers must be aged 18 or over.
For further details contact volunteering coordinator Verity O’Donnell via email at volunteermidlands@guidedogs.org.uk or call 0800 781 1444.
