Puppy walker inspired

Photo: BEN WATSON

CARA AND I: Puppy walker Jane Neill and her guide dog trainee Cara.

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Soon the Neill family will have to say goodbye to their black labrador puppy.

Cara will be going back to the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind for further training before being sent to her new blind owner.

This is the second time Jane Neill and her family have volunteered to be puppy walkers.

"The hardest part is saying goodbye," says Mrs Neill.

Three times a week Cara goes to work with Mrs Neill at her part-time job in Takapuna.

"She just sits there. Labradors are very good at sleeping, so she mainly just sleeps," says Mrs Neill.

Mrs Neill wanted to be a puppy walker because her grandfather was blind.

For her two children it has been a good learning experience. Both have been to the charity’s children workshops, where they met blind people with their guide dogs.

"They feel the wrench just like we do when the dog is taken away," says Mrs Neill.

The charity organisation provides guide dogs to its members for free but it costs more than $22,500 to breed then train a puppy.

Thousands of volunteers are desperately needed for the Red Puppy Appeal that is running from Friday, March 26, to Sunday, March 28.

People interested in volunteering for a few hours of street collection sould call the Red Puppy Appeal Team on 0800 RED PUPPY (0800 733 787) or email red puppy@p10.co.nz.

Or if you would like to become a puppy walker call 269-0400.

- © Fairfax NZ News