Hearing dog charity needs foster homes for new recruits

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is looking for volunteers in Bedfordshire to become “puppy socialisers” to care for young recruits.

Puppy training instructor for the Bedford area Jo Ellam said: “Puppy socialisers look after our gorgeous puppies in their own homes from eight weeks old until they reach 14-16 months.

“They provide the puppies with skills and obedience training, and take them along to weekly puppy classes and into as many different environments as possible, such as shops, on public transport, and to busy towns and cafés.

“This gives the young dogs the confidence to accompany a deaf person everywhere they go when they become a hearing dog. I offer our puppy socialisers support and guidance every step of the way.”

Following their 16-months of socialising, adolescent hearing dogs return to one of the charity’s two centres where they will carry out 18 weeks of advanced training, before being expertly matched with a deaf person in the UK.

Jo adds: “If you live in or around Bedford and are looking for something new to do this year, then why not give something back and meet some lovable life-changing puppies along the way?

“As long as you have a car, a secure, private garden, and enough time to train a puppy daily, then we would absolutely love to hear from you. You really can make such an enormous difference.”

To find out more about puppy socialising, contact the Hearing Dogs volunteering team on [email protected] or 01844 348100.