Over the coming months many local residents will notice an increase in the number of Labrador dogs around the village because we now have a Guide Dogs fundraising branch in Alderley Edge and Wilmslow.
Brian Etchells, treasurer of the new branch, explained "The Guide Dog Association runs totally on voluntary contributions from the public and an army of volunteers. Myself and another lady are both puppy walkers for Guide Dog's and saw the opportunity to raise more funds in this area.
"I will be putting lots of collection boxes around both Alderley Edge and Wilmslow and we will be holding collections at various venues throughout the area, about once a month. It costs a lot of money to feed and train the dogs, then there's the vet's bills. In fact, by the time they retire each guide dog will have cost about £48,000."
The local fundraising branch do lots of talks to interested parties; schools, cubs, scouts, church groups etc and they are also looking for volunteer puppy walkers. Puppy walking is a crucial part of Guide Dogs' work. Although done on a voluntary basis, it will take a lot of time, commitment and love but the end result is a very special animal indeed.
Puppy walkers play a vital role in the early socialisation and education of guide dogs. At about six weeks of age, puppies start their early training, remaining with the volunteers until they are around one year old, at which point they are transferred to a training centre to begin their specialised training.
The aim of puppy walking is to produce a puppy that is socially well behaved, friendly and responsive to the handler. It is also important that the puppy is at ease in all environments, including town conditions, is relaxed and confident when using all types of transport and learns an acceptable standard of behaviour on the lead.
For more information visit The Guide Dogs website or view the video above for an overview of how you can help Guide Dogs to keep transforming lives. The Guide Dogs Volunteer Office can be contacted on 0845 3717771.
Comments
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We only set up the Wilmslow and Alderley Edge branch last June and have so far raised over £2500.
If anyone is involved in a local group and would be interested in learning more about Guide Dog's, I do talk's to many different groups, school assemblies, beavers, cubs, scouts, brownies, church groups. Just get in touch.
You may have noticed lots of new collection boxes around the village, but you will probably not have noticed our new puppy just yet. Tiffy is our new lab/retriever, she is only 10 weeks old and therefore only just on her lead. If you see us around the village please say hello as she loves meeting people.
Tiffy loves it in Fruitcake as everyone is so friendly.