Do you have a place in your heart and home to take care of a little puppy that will one day become a Seeing Eye dog? If you are from Kedron or another northern suburb, find out how to volunteer to become a puppy-carer.
Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs is seeking carers for eight-week-old puppies who are willing to have a puppy inside their home, have a secured yard, are willing to provide the puppy with regular socialising, can conduct basic training and can make themselves available for group training as needed.
Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs established its first training school for dog guides in Victoria in 1960 and has since been a national provider of world-class bred and trained dogs. There are currently 200 pups in the Puppy carer program that could one day become dog guides providing independence and improved quality of life for people who are blind or have a low vision.
Applications are open for carers from Northern Brisbane and select Sunshine Coast and Victoria areas. Volunteers may apply for a full 12-month program or a shorter six-month program. Seeing Eye Dogs covers the cost of the program including the cost of all equipment, food, dog health care, vet costs, and training.
You may be qualified to join the program if you have the following skills:
- Able to drive, own a car and have immediate car access to transport the pup/dog to Kensington or any other location as required
- Patient, dedicated and flexible
- Willing and able to follow instructions
- Dog handling skills (enjoys working with dogs)
- Interpersonal and communication skills
- Fluent English speaking
No prior dog training experience is needed to be a foster puppy parent. However, a volunteer should be comfortable being around dogs and is willing to care for an eight-week-old puppy until it is approximately 12 to 15 months old.
Puppy carers are also expected to provide the puppy with a loving home, help them learn to socialise, and teach them basic skills including toilet training, sitting, and walking on a lead in a relaxed manner.
For more information about the program, click here.
