How you can adopt a guide dog puppy for a year in Norfolk

Guide Dogs provides pooches to those who have sight loss but the charity needs volunteers to look after the puppies before they start their official training.  

Long-term puppy raisers are required to look after the dogs for 12 months, teach them basic commands and introduce them to different social environments.  

Jasper photographed at his first training session (Image: Guide Dogs)

The organisation provides support and training as well as funding all the costs included in raising the pups. 

The scheme was established last year and allowed guide dogs Jasper and Rosie an environment to learn in before heading off to their official training at the charity's Midlands Regional Centre.  

READ MORE: Dog who is 'desperately sad' and 'bewildered' to be in kennels seeks new home

Jay Baker, puppy development advisor for Norfolk, said: “It’s been fantastic to watch our guide dog pups grow and develop as part of our new puppy-raising scheme in Norfolk. 

“We want to expand our schemes in both Norfolk and Suffolk, but to do this, we need more local volunteers who’d be happy to help us.   

“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. 

The puppies need to be taught basic commands and introduced to different social settings (Image: Guide Dogs)

 “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.     

To find out more, contact Volunteering Coordinator Melanie Brown via volunteermidlands@guidedogs.org.uk or call 0800 781 1444.