Lions Foundation In Search of Foster Owners For Dozens of Puppies

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.

 

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36 times i have been to LFC Dog Guides to hand over my puppies leashes to a trainer... 36 times those dogs have changes lives. There is an blind adult no longer scared to leave her house because of her Dog Guide. A child who found his voice and a friend cause of his Dog Guide. A girl who didn't die in a snow bank after a seizure cause of her Dog Guide. And more stories of lives changed by even the dogs who did not quite graduate. The contraband found in a prision, or the child with a new best friend. Thank you to all 36 puppies for letting me be the start to your stories. I Never "give them up"... but i do get them started. Tonic... i can't wait to see what you do next!! XO momma Missy

A post shared by Missy Westgate (@dogguidepuppy) on Jun 11, 2018 at 9:09pm PDT

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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A post shared by VIC • VANDY (@victoriaannv) on Dec 17, 2015 at 6:51pm PST

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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A post shared by Elizabeth & Heart (@heart_lfcdogguide) on Oct 13, 2018 at 2:04pm PDT

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".

 

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Fame's 1st Puppy Class!

A post shared by Sheila McNiven (@sheila_mcniven) on Dec 11, 2018 at 2:27pm PST

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.

 

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Well after a year of fantastic adventures Vader and I prepare to say goodbye to Lex. We will miss the polar bear but Lex is so ready to make us proud. Lex will be starting his training to become an AAD (Autism Assitance Dog) on Dec 3.

A post shared by Pup with a Destiny (@pupwithadestiny) on Nov 13, 2018 at 7:08am PST

For more info on becoming a foster puppy parent, click here.

Feature image courtesy of Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides via Facebook.