If you're looking for a dog, without the lifelong commitment, the National Service Dogs need your help.
The organization is seeking volunteer puppy raisers in Guelph and surrounding areas, whether it be families or individuals.
More specifically, it needs volunteers to take in 15 eight-week old puppies as soon as Jan. 3.
"No dog experience is required," said Emma Bluhm, puppy program instructor and communications coordinator for the National Service Dogs program.
"We will set you up with all the training you need. We're just looking for people who are willing to learn, and have the patience and love to give to give to a puppy in training."
The dogs needing homes are black labrador retrievers.
Bluhm said there are three different roles: a puppy starter takes care of a three-month stretch, starting with a puppy that's eight-weeks old. Puppy raisers takes it from there, taking care of a puppy at eight-weeks or five months, until the dog is 15 months old.
After that, there are adult raisers who take the dogs at 15 months and have for six to eight months, until the dog is done its training.
"There is some small financial commitment," Bluhm said. "We would ask the volunteers to provide some basic supplies like a leash and collar and crate.
Aside from that, there is no cost to volunteering, and we do set our volunteers up with lots of extra educational opportunities that are all free as well."
You're asked to visit the National Service Dogs website to learn more about the program, or to fill in an application.
