Puppy Class will open its doors on Wednesday 3 April, with locals being able to watch guide dog puppies in action from 11.30-12.30, and then have refreshments and find out about volunteering for the charity from 12.30-1.30. The class takes place at: Dumfries Rugby Club, Park Farm, New Abbey Rd, Dumfries DG2 7LU.
A Spokesperson from Guide Dogs Said “We are seeking volunteers who could look after our guide dogs in training at various stages. ‘Puppy walkers’ look after a guide dog puppy full time, for the first 12-14 months of its life. They take part in monthly puppy classes, and teach the puppy basic obedience before it goes on to formal training. ‘Boarders’ look after the dogs in advanced training for around 10 weeks at a time.
We are looking for boarders close to Kircudbright and to Dumfries. Boarders will look after the dog in evenings and weekends, but should be flexible if the dog is not required for training that day. The trainer will collect the dog for part of the day to carry out the dog’s training, and then return it to the volunteer.
We welcome interest from potential puppy walkers in: Dumfries, Lockerbie, Kirkcudbright, Borgue, Castle Douglas, Newton Stewart, Castle Kennedy, and Stranraer.
Our dogs and puppies should not be left home alone for more than three hours at a time, therefore these roles would not suit someone who is out working all day every day. No prior knowledge or experience required, as volunteer training and support is provided, and costs are covered by the charity. Puppy walkers should have access to a car and secure outside area.
These volunteer roles are essential in the journey to turn a small bundle of fluff into a guide dog, which provides independence for someone with sight loss. If you’d like to get involved, but the dog roles aren’t for you, we are also keen to hear from people who could join our Dumfries fundraising group, organising or taking part in fun events around the area, to raise money to support our life changing services.”
If you would like to find out more about volunteering for Guide Dogs, you can visit the website: www.guidedogs.org.uk/volunteer or if you’d like to enquire about the specifics of a particular volunteer role, please contact the Guide Dogs Glasgow Community Team on 0118 983 8123. You can also email Tammy Robinson on: [email protected].
You can visit the puppy class event page on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/events/2340768356156540/
(Please note no pet dogs at the Guide Dogs puppy class).
