A guide dog charity is urgently seeking volunteers to help care for its newest recruits.
Guide Dogs is appealing for 15 fosterers to look after trainee guide dogs in the Redbridge area during evenings and weekends.
The dogs are currently being trained at the charity’s regional centre in the South East.
Paul Cooper, a volunteer fosterer from Loughton, said: "We started fostering Ben, a Labrador x Golden Retriever, two months ago.
"Each weekday we run him to and from the ‘school’ in Redbridge, and chat to his Guide Dog Trainer about what he’s learnt and how we can help enforce behaviours they’re working on.
"In some ways it’s like having another child.
"Like children, each dog has their own quirks, needs to follow certain rules, and makes you feel incredibly proud."
Ten new trainees recently joined the centre, raising the current number of dogs in training in Redbridge to around 75.
Guide dogs begin their formal training at around 14 months old and typically qualify by the age of two.
During this period, they are cared for by volunteer fosterers when not at the centre.
The Redbridge site is appealing for fosterers living within five miles of the centre to house the dogs outside of training hours.
Meghann Gibson, dog supply manager for Redbridge at Guide Dogs, said: "With the success of our Academy comes an urgent need for volunteers to support the vital training that our staff carry out.
"We’ve recently welcomed ten new dogs who are just starting their training with us, and desperately need more fosterers who can provide the care they need at this crucial stage of their journey to becoming life changers."
Fosterers are responsible for transporting the dogs to and from the centre Monday to Friday, similar to a daily school run.
Ms Gibson said: "We are so grateful to our fosterers who open their homes and hearts to our dogs whilst they complete their training.
"We are currently seeking 15 new homes within roughly a 5-mile radius of Redbridge.
"The best part of this role is seeing your foster dog progress in their training and being a vital part of their guide dog journey, without the commitment that pet dogs require."
Guide Dogs covers all costs related to the dog’s care, including food, vet bills, and equipment.
The charity also provides training and ongoing support for volunteers.
Mr Cooper said fostering has been a rewarding experience for his family.
He said: "Unlike having children or even pet dogs, there’s not the same financial or long-term commitment.
"There’s lots of support from the staff and we’ve even had respite care provided by other volunteers when we went on holiday over the summer.
"Guide Dogs also covers all the costs related to Ben’s care, and we know we’re looking after him for a limited period of time.
"His future is with someone with sight loss, whose life he will hopefully help change for the better.
"In the meantime, he’s a joy to have in our home and is definitely part of the family."
To learn more about becoming a fosterer, visit guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/volunteering/volunteer-with-our-dogs/fosterer.
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