An influx of puppies in the British Columbia and Alberta Guide Dogs program has organizers seeking Calgary families to home, and help train, the dogs during their formative months.
“You get puppies when they’re about two months old and you keep them until they’re about a year–and-a-half,” explained Sandra Cramer, puppy training supervisor with BC and Alberta Guide Dogs. “You stay involved with our program by doing obedience classes and meeting with me to learn all of the things that you need to teach these puppies in their journey to become a guide dog or an autism support dog.”
The volunteer puppy trainers offer their time and do not require any specialized training. The organization provides the dog’s food, bowl and leash and covers the cost of all veterinary clinic visits.
"It is best suited for people who either are retired or work very flexible jobs from home,” said Cramer. “For the first ten weeks, you’re coming for weekly obedience classes. After that, you come every other week for the entire time that you have the dog and then you also meet with me a minimum of once a month for one-on-one training.”
Elizabeth Kopp is currently training a black lab named Joy and is preparing to say goodbye to the animal in mid-April. The 15-month-old dog will be paired with someone who is either visually impaired or on the autism spectrum and requires assistance.
"You raise this dog from a puppy, they get older and they go through advance training” said Kopp, who had previously trained and said goodbye to Joy’s half-sister. “The cost is just your time and your heart.”
"We all miss our dogs. They come to us as little balls of chub and they leave us as grown dogs but, once again, you just realize how much good those dogs do."
Cramer acknowledges that it can be difficult to relinquish care of the animals when training is complete but it is a rewarding experience.
"Everything that is worthwhile to do in life is difficult, and giving these puppies away is hard after 18 months but, when you see how much they change someone’s life, it is well worth the time and effort that they have put into these puppies."
For additional information on volunteering to raise a puppy to become a guide dog or autism support dog visit BC & Alberta Guide Dogs
With files from CTV's Stephanie Wiebe
