SA Guide Dogs Association is looking for puppy raisers
The association is always in need of people who will provide homes to puppies that will become guide dogs.
If you would like to take care of a puppy for a year with their food and vet bills covered, then you are exactly who the SA Guide Dogs Association is looking for.
The association is always in need of puppy raisers.
So said representatives of the group who visited Olivedale Library during a recent event.
“Puppy Raisers are crucial to the training, well-being and successful outcome of our pups for the first 12-18 months of their lives,” explained the head of public relations, Pieter van Niekerk, who visited with his own guide dog, O’Shea.
The group’s guide dogs are birthed through artificial insemination, with semen collected from all over the world to ensure the healthiest and most temperamental puppies are born.
For the first 12 to 18 months of their lives, before their formal training begins, these puppies need to go to the homes of people who love dogs.
Moreover, puppy raisers must:
- Be 18 years or older.
- Have a calm, patient temperament
- Be physically fit and capable as the puppy must be walked and socialised.
- Have flexible hours.
- Own transport and driver’s license.
- Be able to commit for up to 18 months.
- Be available to attend weekly training sessions on weekdays for a 21-week period during office hours.
- Attend monthly to bi-monthly outings with pup and group of puppy raisers during office hours.
Someone must also be with the puppy all the time, so your work must allow your puppy to be with you.
After the 12-18 months is up, it does not mean you will never see the dog again, Van Niekerk said.
The puppies have formal training for four to six months and during this time they can go home on the weekends.
If you would like to become a puppy raiser or find out more about it, you can email AlidaP@guidedog.org.za.
Details: SA Guide Dogs Association info@guidedog.org.za ;011 705 3512.
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