THE charity Guide Dogs is in urgent need of loving homes in Redditch for its guide dog mums.
Guide dog mums are homed with volunteers when they are around a year old.
Most guide dog pups start their formal guide dog training at this age, but a small proportion follow a different journey and become a guide dog mum or dad instead.
Guide dog mums need regular walks, care and company, like any other pet dog, and Guide Dogs covers all food and veterinary costs.
At certain points, each guide dog mum will be required to have litters of puppies, who will hopefully go on to provide life-changing support to people living with sight loss.
Litters are born in volunteers’ homes, with 24-hour support from Guide Dogs, giving people the unique opportunity to care for guide dog pups.
Katie Webb, from Redditch, has been looking after guide dog mum Iggy, a yellow Labrador cross Golden Retriever, since 2016.
Iggy has had two litters of guide dog puppies, with support from Katie and her family, and by the time these pups are two years-old, they will hopefully be qualified guide dogs.
Katie said: “It was absolutely fantastic having pups at home.
“Once they are past two weeks old, their eyes start opening and they start hearing too.
“It’s really exciting once they get bigger and they are learning things.
“The staff at Guide Dogs are amazing and they are always there to support.”
Between six and seven weeks of age, puppies move to the charity’s state-of-the-art breeding centre just outside Leamington Spa for health and temperament checks, before starting on their journey to become life- changers.
Katie added: “The best bit is knowing what these puppies are going to do in the future.
“All the pups are going to be life-changers for people.”
The charity also provides a free of charge kenneling service for guide dog mums and dads.
To find out more email Kelly Newton at [email protected] or call 0345 143 0216.
