Life-changing puppy volunteers needed to help train medical alert assistance dogs
A charity that trains dogs to detect serious medical conditions using their nose, is appealing for volunteers across the county to help raise the next generation of life-saving assistance dogs.
Medical Detection Dogs is looking for Puppy Socialisers who can provide a loving home to one of its puppies while they begin their journey to becoming specialist Medical Alert Assistance Dogs.
The national charity, based in Great Horwood, which trains dogs to detect changes in a person's scent linked to medical conditions, says the volunteers are vital to ensuring more people can benefit from its support.
Puppy Socialisers care for a dog from around eight weeks old until it reaches between 18 and 24 months of age. During that time, the puppy receives regular training and support from the charity's expert trainers while learning the foundations needed for its future role.
All food, veterinary care, training and associated costs are covered by the charity.
Once fully trained, the dogs can help people living with conditions, alerting them to potentially serious medical episodes before they occur.
The dogs are trained to detect subtle changes in an individual's personal odour, and provide crucial warnings, alerting their human partner to an impending medical event, helping them manage complex life-threatening or life-limiting medical conditions and improve confidence and independence.
A spokesperson for Medical Detection Dogs said: "Our Puppy Socialisers play an essential role in helping us train the next generation of Medical Alert Assistance Dogs.
"Without volunteers willing to open their homes and support our puppies during the early stages of their development, we simply could not provide these life-changing dogs to the people who need them.
"This is a truly unique volunteering opportunity that allows people to make a direct contribution to changing, and potentially saving, someone's life while supporting a puppy through its journey to becoming a highly skilled assistance dog."
Medical Detection Dogs said demand for its assistance dogs continues to grow and more volunteers are needed to ensure enough dogs can progress through its training programme.
The charity's Medical Alert Assistance Dogs support people living with complex health conditions by providing advanced warning of potentially dangerous medical episodes, giving them precious time to take preventative action.
Anyone interested in becoming a Puppy Socialiser will receive ongoing support from the charity's training team and become part of a network helping to improve and save lives through the extraordinary abilities of detection dogs.
For more information about volunteering with Medical Detection Dogs, visit the charity's website at https://www.medicaldetectiondogs.org.uk or contact the volunteer recruitment team by emailing [email protected]