Lions Foundation In Search of Foster Owners For Dozens of Puppies
25 Future Guide Dogs In Need Of Temporary Homes
Do you have what it takes to raise a future dog guide?
The Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides is seeking out foster parents for 25 future dog guides. Within the next two weeks the batch of Labrador retriever puppies will be ready to go to their new homes, and some are already set to go.
The Foundation is looking for families who live within a reasonable radius to their home base in Oakville, to raise the puppies until they are one year of age. After the foster period, they will commence their dog guide training.
There are seven different programs in place to train the dogs to assist people with a wide range of disabilities across the country. The dogs are taught basic skills applicable to all handlers, and some skills suited to the needs of their specific handler.
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The goal for foster families is to provide the puppies with basic skills and solid foundation for the future, in order to best equip them for training.
Looking after a beautiful puppy for a year may be a dream come true, but it does come with stipulations. The role of a foster puppy parent is a serious responsibility and should not be considered by anyone without reasonable availability. Foster parents will be required to bring their furry friend to puppy classes once a month and cannot leave the puppy alone for more than 3 hours at a time.
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It is also important that while puppies are in the care of their foster families, they are learning to become familiar with social settings. Helping the puppies learn how to behave in places such as public transportation, malls and office spaces will help better prepare them for their future role. Foster puppies will be provided with green jackets to identify them as a “future dog guide”.
Still up for it? Just remember the hardest part of the process… sending your lovable buddy back when the time comes. In the end, you are contributing to an important process and can help change the life of someone in need.
For more info on becoming a foster puppy parent, click here.
