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A charity is calling for foster homes for some of the 27 guide dogs currently in training at the Guide Dogs Exeter Training Centre, the highest number of dogs the centre has had in school in six years. Homes are especially needed for dogs reaching around one year old as they move through formal training, a process normally completed before the dogs turn two.
During the day, the dogs work with trainers learning essential skills like navigating busy streets and avoiding obstacles. What’s needed on top of that is fosterers willing to give them a loving home for between three and six months. Kate Lewis, guide dog partnership operations manager, described the arrangement as similar to a school run, with dogs dropped off at the training site Monday to Friday before spending evenings and weekends with their foster families. “We provide full instructions and help with training plans, but obviously dogs are still dogs and come with different temperaments and behaviours, so we can help anyone through that,” she said. Guide Dogs South West is separately looking for volunteers in Cornwall, particularly in Newquay, Truro, and areas further east.
Andy Emblin and his family are currently fostering a trainee guide dog named Thomas. He said the arrangement works well for a family with busy jobs and children, since it doesn’t come with the full time commitment of dog ownership. “It’s a very flexible process and I’d say just have a go and see what happens,” he said. Fosterers need to live within 12 miles of Exeter, and Guide Dogs covers the cost of food, veterinary care, equipment, training, and support for each dog.
Liese Connolly is currently fostering her fifth guide dog in training, a Labrador cross golden retriever named Agatha. “We’re a doggy family but after the sadness of losing our pet golden retriever, we decided we didn’t want another dog of our own,” she said. “Being a fosterer is a massive win for us. They become a real part of the family, even though it’s for a short period. We love taking Agatha out to places at the weekend, playing with her, and going to the beach or the forest so she can enjoy an off-lead run in the evenings. I always say we get the fun part of the journey, and it makes you feel so proud when your dog goes on to change someone’s life.”
My thoughts: What stands out in Liese’s comment is the honesty of it, she says outright that fostering gives her family “the fun part of the journey” without the full weight of long term ownership, and that’s clearly framed as a genuine win rather than something to feel guilty about. It’s a useful reframe for anyone who assumes helping an animal in need has to mean permanent commitment. These dogs need consistent, loving homes for a defined stretch of time before they go on to change someone’s life completely, and the charity has built a system that makes that manageable for families who couldn’t otherwise take on a dog at all.
Source: BBC News
