THE charity Guide Dogs is appealing for volunteers in the Droitwich area to help out as puppy walkers.

The job involves taking in guide dog puppies when they’re around six weeks old and training them until they reach the age of one, educating them and making sure they socialise.

Puppy walkers aim to ensure their puppies are socially well behaved, friendly and responsive to handling, as well as being at ease in all environments including busy and built up areas

Staff from the charity are on hand to give volunteers advice on the best way to achieve good results with puppies, and when might be the most appropriate time to introduce the puppies to each new environment.

Sue Bushell, community engagement officer for Guide Dogs, said: “Sight loss is life changing, but so are guide dogs, I often meet puppy walkers many have had a lot of puppies over the years and they love every minute. It is a fantastic job and you get a real sense of achievement from it. When the puppy leaves, yes it’s hard, but you know you've done your bit and it's going on to do the next stage of its training so that someday it can help bring independence and mobility for a blind or partially sighted person, I always remember meeting one puppy walker who after their first puppy said they didn't want to do it again as it was so hard to hand it back...........until they spoke to the person the dog went on to be partnered with, when they realised the difference the dog had made to their life as soon as they could they got back in touch and are now on puppy number 20. That’s how rewarding this role can be.

“The cost of this early training of a guide dog is £5,000 and from birth to retirement is nearly £50,000 Guide Dogs receives no government or statutory funding. We rely entirely on the generosity of the public to provide a service that makes a massive difference to the lives of blind and partial sighted people.”

Anyone interested in volunteering as a Guide Dog puppy walker, should visit guidedogs.org.uk/supportus/volunteering/what-can-i-do/puppy-walkers or contact volunteer consultant Michelle Parsons, by calling 08453 727434 or writing to birmingham@guidedogs.org.uk.