Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind is currently recruiting volunteers to raise puppies until they are approximately one year old.
Waterford families who live no more than two hours from the Irish Guide Dog headquarters on Model Farm Road in Cork are being invited to foster a puppy.
The puppy would live in your family home from eight weeks old, at which time their journey to becoming a guide dog begins.
The puppy will then go on to a training centre and begin the hard work towards graduation. After graduating, the puppy will either become a guide dog for a person who is vision impaired or an assistance dog for a family with a child with autism.
Eligibility
To be eligible, you must not have more than two other dogs in your home. If you do have dogs, they must be sociable, well behaved, and neutered or spayed.
The puppy cannot be left alone for prolonged periods of time. Four hours is the maximum, but it is age dependent.
You must be over 18 years old, and any children in the home must be over five.
Internet access for the use of Zoom and a secured outdoor area are also required.
If you qualify for a puppy, you will then have a designated Puppy Raising Supervisor who will provide you with all of the training and support you need to educate your puppy.
The Supervisors work closely with the Puppy Raisers by keeping in regular contact and visiting the home to monitor the puppy's progress.
The goal is to raise a well-mannered and socialised puppy in order to build an essential foundation for the puppy's future success.
All veterinary fees and feeding costs are covered by Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.
You will receive a create and leads, and when you go on holidays a nice home will be sourced for your puppy.
To apply or to find out more, visit the Irish Guide Dog website.
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