National assistance dog charity urgently needs Puppy Parent volunteers as it moves head office to Leicestershire
NATIONAL assistance dog charity Canine Partners has announced it is moving to a single centre organisation based at its Midlands Training Centre in Leicestershire this Spring.
The charity, which trains amazing assistance dogs to help disabled people is closing its older training centre facility in West Sussex and relocating the head office to its modern, purpose-built facility in Osgathorpe, near Loughborough.
Canine Partners, like many other charities, is experiencing tough financial challenges. Becoming a single operating site will reduce costs and safeguard the financial future of the charity ensuring funds remain focused on delivering as many of our amazing partnerships as possible, now and in the future.
“Canine Partners has been training puppies and dogs and creating life-changing partnerships with disabled adults from our Midlands Training Centre for 10 years. I am delighted that our centre of operations will be based from the Centre, bringing lots of exciting additional volunteering and other opportunities into the Leicestershire area,” says Alex Lochrane, the charity’s new CEO.
“We currently have 93 disabled adults on our waiting list for one of our amazing canine partner assistance dogs, and our wonderful community of supportive volunteers are key for us to provide this service.”
Alex, who joined the charity in December, is making an urgent appeal for Puppy Parent volunteers in the area to help offer the best start in life to puppies training to assist disabled people.
“We are urgently appealing for Puppy Parent volunteers across the country, particularly in the Midlands area, to take on this highly rewarding, fulfilling and fun role. It’s a great chance to learn new skills and do something really amazing by helping to transform the life of someone living with disability,” says Alex.
“Since joining the charity in December last year, I have seen the vital role that Puppy Parent volunteers play in the early socialisation and training of a canine partner, meaning that this role gives the puppy the best possible chance to become a fully-trained assistance dog.”
Puppies-in-training live in a volunteer’s home from around eight-weeks-old until they are ready to start advanced training at the charity’s Midlands Training Centre from 14 months old.
Canine Partners trains amazing assistance dogs to transform the lives of people living with disability, boosting their confidence and independence as well as providing unique companionship.
The dogs are taught a range of tasks that will give essential support to their partner, including picking up and fetching items, opening doors and helping with dressing and undressing. They can even help to load and unload a washing machine and they can fetch help in an emergency.
Canine Partners’ expert trainers support Puppy Parent volunteers every step of the way.
Training involves home and town visits, one-to-ones and puppy classes to socialise the puppy to situations they may encounter as a fully trained canine partner.
To become a Puppy Parent volunteer in one of Canine Partners’ 11 puppy training areas across the country, the primary Puppy Parent volunteer needs to be aged 18 or over, able to flex work around training and able to commit to provide care and support for a puppy for around 12-14 months.
No previous experience is necessary and Canine Partners expert staff will support you every step of the way. If you would like to talk about whether this role is right for you or to find out about other voluntary roles in the area, please get in touch with the team.
To find out more about becoming a Puppy Parent volunteer for Canine Partners, please visit caninepartners.org.uk/volunteer, call 03456 580480 or email volunteer@caninepartners.org.uk
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Additional information
- Canine Partners CEO Alex Lochrane is available for interview
- We can give you access to a puppy and Puppy Parent volunteer in their home or at our Midlands Training Centre in Leicestershire
- If you require someone to come to your location for an interview and/or photo/video shoot, this would be one of our fully trained canine partner assistance dogs with their partner or a Demonstration Team
- High resolution photographs available on request
- Please let us know your requirements by contacting our Marketing Communications Team on the contact details below
For further press information contact the Marketing Communications Team on:
Tel: 07341 564 706 E: news@caninepartners.org.uk
Canine Partners, Ashby Road, Osgathorpe, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 9SR
T 03456 580480 E info@caninepartners.org.uk
Visit the Canine Partners website at caninepartners.org.uk