A Murray Bridge woman who has spent the past decade raising guide dog puppies says the experience is life-changing, not just for the people who receive the dogs, but for the volunteers who help train them.
Natalie Marsh has been a puppy raiser with Guide Dogs SA/NT for around 10 years, helping raise between 10 and 15 dogs that have gone on to become guide dogs, assistance dogs or facility dogs.
She first became involved after losing her own much-loved dog, spotting a fundraising tin for an autism assistance dog at her local vet.
“At the time I was working with a young girl with autism at school and I just thought, if I could help raise a dog that supports someone with autism or someone who’s vision impaired, that would be absolutely amazing,” Natalie told ARN’s Adam and Jennie. “I couldn’t bear to get my own dog again, but this is like having a dog without having a dog.”
Guide Dogs SA/NT is now calling for more puppy raisers, with a new group of puppies arriving in February. Puppy raisers welcome a dog into their daily lives from as young as eight weeks old, helping them become confident and comfortable in a wide range of environments before formal training begins at around 12 to 15 months of age. Volunteers are supported by a puppy raiser adviser and attend training sessions in Adelaide and in the community.
Natalie says while raising a puppy requires commitment, the rewards are worth it.
“They’re just like children – you really do prepare your whole life around them,” she said. “But seeing how they grow, and knowing what they go on to do, makes it all worthwhile.”
The impact on the people who eventually receive the dogs is what stays with Natalie most. “People tell us they were stuck at home and wouldn’t go out, but with a guide dog they get their confidence and independence back,” she said. “Some of the dogs I’ve helped train now go to Adelaide Crows games with 50,000 people, navigating that world so their handler can live independently. When you see that end result, it’s just incredible.”
To become a puppy raiser, volunteers must be over 18, have a driver’s licence, be able to manage a dog that may grow beyond 30 kilograms, and live within about an hour of Adelaide or around Victor Harbor, with a secure yard and space for the puppy to sleep inside.
To find out more about becoming a puppy raiser, go to the SA/NT Guide Dogs website.
Hear Natalie’s chat with ARN’s Adam and Jennie on SoundCloud.
