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It could be the cutest volunteering opportunity in Regina: The local Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) is looking for people to become puppy raisers for future guide dogs for people with sight loss.
In the new year, four or five puppies will come to Regina from Australia to be trained as guide dogs. They’re Labrador and Golden Retriever crosses and will be only 8-10 weeks old by then.
Christall Beaudry is the executive director of the CNIB foundation. She said it’s a 24-7 volunteer role, so they’re looking for people who can make the commitment and have the time.
“You really have the puppy with you all day, all night, and it really comes with all the things you can appreciate with a puppy. So, you know, there is chewing and other things.”
There will only be a few dogs, but Beaudry said they like to have more homes for the dogs in case someone goes on vacation or has medical issues that come up.
The volunteers go for training to learn how to train the puppies, then they get them for 12 to 15 months and work on basic obedience and socialization of the puppy.
“A guide dog gets to go into places that your regular pet dog doesn’t. So, for example, a restaurant, on a bus, in a taxicab, and so all those kind of things we want to expose the puppy to as well,” said Beaudry.
She said there’s no cost to the puppy raisers — all the food and equipment and medical costs are covered by the CNIB.
At the moment, there are some puppies going through training in Regina already. Beaudry said they’re the first batch to be trained in Saskatchewan.
“I think their puppy raisers would tell you that they’re fantastic dogs and they learn really quickly, but they’re also like toddlers at times and need some coaching and some guidance.”
Beaudry said there are some days the puppies are like toddlers, and need some extra patience.
“But, overall, they know that the impact they’re making for someone who’s blind or partially sighted is indescribable. I mean, they’re really contributing to someone’s safety, confidence and independence.”
Beaudry also took the opportunity to remind people that when they see a dog with its yellow vest on, that means it’s working, so hands off.
Anyone interested in becoming a puppy raiser can fill out an application on the CNIB’s website.
The CNIB will also be holding its Guide Dogs with Purpose fundraising gala in January, so anyone wanting to support but can’t raise a puppy can do so that way.