Guide Dog Development Program Volunteer Roles

Transcription

1 Information Sheet Guide Dog Development Program Volunteer Roles Guide Dogs SA.NT is a premium service provider in the disability sector. We use our expertise with dogs and in sensory service provision to enhance the quality of life of individuals living with a disability and their families. The Guide Dog Services department provides Guide Dogs to people who are blind or vision impaired, Autism Assistance Dogs to families of children with autism, and Pets as Therapy Dogs as companions to individuals living with a disability or disorder. To achieve this, we rely heavily on the generous support of volunteers to care for, nurture and assist in the development of our pups and dogs. Our volunteers are one of the most important parts of our organisation. It takes a lot of dedication and patience to raise or provide short-term care for a puppy, or to look after a mature dog in training, or to assist with a litter of puppies for the first eight weeks of their lives. But for our volunteers, it is very rewarding to see the final outcome and the joy, independence and safety they can give a person with a disability. Volunteers can assist in one of four ways: Puppy Raising Volunteer Puppy Raisers care for a puppy from around 8 weeks of age, for approximately months, in their homes. Home Boarding Our more mature dogs who are in training require volunteers to look after them in their homes, from the age of months, for approximately 6 months. Short-term Boarding On occasions our puppies and dogs need short-term care in different home environments. Short-term Boarders care for a puppy or adult dog in their homes, on a needs basis, ranging from one week to a few months. Puppy Development Centre (PDC) PDC volunteers look after the cleaning, care and feeding of pups and their mother, for the first eight weeks of the puppies life, in our centre in the city. Page 1 of 9

2 Becoming a Volunteer Our volunteers know and understand that they are helping to give our clients the freedom of mobility and that they carry a large responsibility to prepare the pup or dog for its intended role. To ensure that we find the right volunteers for our puppies and dogs we go through an important application process. Interview/Information Session Once you have filled out your paperwork to express your interest in becoming a volunteer, one of our staff members will contact you by phone to arrange an in-home interview (for Puppy Raising, Short-term Boarding, or Home Boarding) or a group information session (for PDC). The interview/information session gives our staff an opportunity to explain the role of the volunteer. The in-home interview also assists our staff member to ensure that you have a suitable home environment for one of our puppies or dogs. The sessions allow prospective volunteers to ask any questions you may have and to ensure you understand the expectations of you. Practical Session The next step is to participate in a practical session. This allows our staff to view any existing skills you have that are relevant to the volunteering role, and to identify areas in which you will require further training and assistance. It provides applicants with an opportunity to understand what to expect from your volunteering role. The practical session may be a group session in our centre, or an individual session in your home. Application Approved/Further Paperwork During the above process you will be issued with the paperwork required in order to obtain a Police Record Check, and you will be asked to complete a Medical Declaration stating that you are fit and healthy for the role. Once your application is approved and all paperwork completed, you will go onto our contact list and will be contacted once we have a puppy/dog/pdc litter due. Often we are unable to provide you with an exact time frame of when you can expect a puppy/dog/pdc litter. In the meantime, there may be training sessions and workshops that we ask you to attend, to upskill you and support you in your role. Those applying for a Puppy Raising role will also be expected to do some short-term boarding whilst they wait for a puppy this ensures that you are prepared well in advance of receiving an allocated puppy. Page 2 of 9

3 Please find following more detailed information about each of the volunteer roles. Puppy Raising What is Puppy Raising? Puppies spend the first year of their lives with volunteer families. Puppy Raisers care for the puppies and teach them appropriate social behaviour to help produce healthy, socialised young dogs with good temperaments to be assessed for inclusion in our Guide Dog program, Autism Assistance Dog program, or Pets as Therapy program. Where do the pups come from? Pups are sourced from our own breeding program as well as other Guide Dog schools in Australia and New Zealand. What is involved? We place puppies with volunteer families when the puppies are 8-10 weeks of age. At months of age, they return to Guide Dogs SA.NT to be assessed for training. Whilst we prefer that volunteer Puppy Raisers are available to have a pup in their home for the entire 12 months, some Puppy Raisers are unable to, or they have a preference for a certain age of dog. Some are able to have a young puppy in their care up to the age of 6 months. Others prefer to care for older dogs from about 6 months of age. These are options that can be discussed with you during the interview process. There may also be a need to move your puppy to a different volunteer during the period, to ensure exposure to different environments. Each Puppy Raiser receives on-going support and instruction from Guide Dogs SA.NT. A staff member visits regularly (weekly or fortnightly) and is available for telephone support. The scheduling of visits will depend on the progress of the puppy and volunteer family. There are also group obedience, free run, and travel sessions that you will be required to attend. On average, you can expect to have contact with a Guide Dogs SA.NT staff member on a weekly basis. This may require you travelling into the city. Socialisation Pups are gradually exposed to all of the sights, sounds and smells that they are likely to encounter as working dogs. If they are introduced to new things in a supported and positive way, they are likely to develop the confident, relaxed attitude essential for a working dog. Since Guide Dogs and Autism Assistance Dogs can go almost everywhere that people go, the puppies need to learn to feel comfortable in the presence of traffic, pedestrians, children, and other dogs. Our puppies are conditioned to walk on steps and other unusual surfaces, and to be confident in noisy and busy areas. To develop a relaxed and confident attitude, our puppies must be walked daily on lead by a responsible adult. In the early days, the puppy will walk only short distances on quiet residential streets. As the puppy grows and develops confidence, it can then be taken to various new environments and allowed to experience busier conditions all under the supervision Page 3 of 9

4 and recommendation of Guide Dogs SA.NT staff. Puppies are individual and will progress at different rates the puppy is not exposed to more than it can comfortably cope with. As the puppy s confidence grows, it will be introduced to more complex and challenging environments and situations like busy urban shopping centres, and travelling on public transport. Does puppy raising cost anything? Guide Dogs SA.NT provides for all your puppy s needs, including lead, collar, crate, bed, blankets, brush, food bowls, toys, food, veterinary costs, and worming and flea control products. Costs for Puppy Raisers are therefore minimal. Sometimes Puppy Raisers provide extra toys if needed and you will need petrol to transport the puppy to and from training sessions that are held in a variety of areas, both close to your home and away from your local area. What do guide dog puppies eat? Our puppies are fed a diet of Pedigree Advance (dry food). A supply of food can be given to you on your visits or it can be collected from our office. It is important that puppies have only their own food at mealtimes and no snacks or treats. Where do I take the puppy to the vet? Guide Dogs SA.NT has a list of veterinary clinics that regularly deal with our dogs. The clinics are located around Adelaide to enable easy access for our volunteers. Having a small selection of vets enables us to minimise our costs and maintain thorough records. Puppy Raisers should contact their relevant Puppy Raising Advisor initially for advice on health problems, except for a life-threatening emergency. Do I need to register the puppy with my local council? The puppy should be registered with your local council who will issue you with an ID tag. As a guide dog puppy, there will be no registration charge. What about holidays? Guide Dogs SA.NT has a short-term boarding program where families look after puppies of any age while their Puppy Raiser is on holidays, sick, or needs a break. Our boarding families are trained in the same manner as Puppy Raisers. Staff will, where possible, visit a boarding dog to check on its progress and continue its training. Where can I take the puppy? Our puppies and trainee dogs have legal access to public places, just like working Guide Dogs or Autism Assistance Dogs. Puppies are not allowed in animal sanctuaries (including the zoo), and certain hospital environments (such as the burns and intensive care units). Our puppies are identified by a yellow coat and the Puppy Raiser is given an identity card to carry with them when accompanied by the puppy. This card demonstrates that the puppy is recognised under relevant laws which enable access to different environments. Puppy Raisers are guided by staff in choosing suitable locations for socialisation at the various stages of development of the puppy. Page 4 of 9

5 What happens after the puppy is returned to Guide Dogs SA.NT? Guide Dogs SA.NT confirms a handover date with Puppy Raisers about two weeks before the puppy enters training. The puppy will be assessed over a 4 week period by training staff and those who are successful will begin a 5 month training program. A dog may be reclassified or withdrawn at any stage throughout the program. What happens to dogs that are not accepted for Guide Dog or Autism Assistance Dog training? The qualities required in a Guide Dog or Autism Assistance Dog are so specific that only about half of our specially bred and raised dogs will be accepted for training on these programs. Those dogs not accepted for training on these programs may be re-classified as a Pets as Therapy dog for a child or adult with Autism or another disorder or disability. Dogs not suitable for placement as a Pets as Therapy dog may be offered for sale to the public. What if I have other pets? Any other pets in the home need to be compatible with a puppy. If there are already one or two other dogs in the house, a staff member will visit and assess whether your dog/s will be compatible with one of our puppies. Pet dogs that are 18 months of age or older, de-sexed, and of a quiet, gentle, placid nature can be a good influence on the puppy. The puppy will need to be socialised and walked separately from your own dog, so that the puppy learns to be self-confident and does not rely on the older dog for security and support. Can children and teenagers be Puppy Raisers? It is beneficial for puppies to be exposed to children and teenagers. They can assist with the puppy at home by grooming, toileting and feeding. However, the primary caregiver of the puppy must be an adult, aged 18 years or over. Children and teenagers should not walk the puppy. They cannot be expected to react appropriately in all situations they are likely to encounter with a puppy, nor should they be given such a significant responsibility. Young children should always be supervised when with the puppy. Who can apply to be a Puppy Raiser? Puppy Raising volunteers need to meet the following criteria for acceptance into the program. Location: Puppy Raisers must live in metropolitan Adelaide, to enable easy transport to training sessions and regular visits by Guide Dogs SA.NT staff. These visits occur on a weekly basis initially and will progress to fortnightly as the dog develops confidence and matures. Some applications are also accepted from Gawler, Mt Barker, and Victor Harbor, provided people are prepared to do some travelling. ALL Puppy Raisers are required to attend regular group sessions, regardless of where they live. Page 5 of 9

6 Lifestyle and experiences: Puppy Raisers must consistently provide the puppy with a lifestyle that is conducive to positive social interactions, and exposure to a variety of environments. This is to ensure that as a trained Guide Dog or Autism Assistance Dog, they are able to work effectively in all changing environments. It is also imperative that the puppy is not left alone for more than 4 hours a day. Care and supervision: Puppy Raisers must be able to provide appropriate care, attention, supervision and leadership, in accordance with Guide Dogs SA.NT standards. Because of the time that needs to be invested into one of our pups, our Puppy Raisers must not work full time or have any on-going commitments that may require them to leave their puppy unattended for more than 4 hours per day. Physical fitness: Puppy Raisers need to be physically fit and strong enough to control a large dog. Labradors grow quickly. They can weigh up to 20kg at 6 months of age and some will mature to 30kg by 12 months. At times, they will be boisterous and may pull strongly on the lead. Transport: Puppy Raisers need to have access to a car and hold a current drivers licence, so they can transport the puppy to the vet, and to training sessions, including into the Adelaide office when required. Fenced yard: Puppy Raisers must have a securely fenced yard in which the puppy can play, toilet and be safely left from time to time. Swimming pools, spas and ponds must be securely fenced. Fences must be at least 1.5 metres high. Indoors: Guide Dogs, Autism Assistance Dogs, and Pets as Therapy dogs are inside dogs. Puppies must sleep inside the house and spend time inside during the day. They will need to be housetrained. You will be provided with a puppy crate for the pup to sleep in and instructions on how to successfully housetrain the pup. Children: Any children in the family should be of school age or older. Experience over the past years has taught us that people with younger children find it difficult to find adequate time to walk and socialise the puppy. Pet dogs: We do place puppies into homes where there is already a pet dog, provided the dog is de-sexed and is compatible with a puppy. The puppy must go for walks and be socialised separately from the pet dog in order to develop confidence and independence. Page 6 of 9

7 Home Boarding What is home boarding? Home Boarders provide homes for adult dogs for a period of 4-6 months whilst they are being assessed and trained to become Guide Dogs or Autism Assistance Dogs. How does home boarding work? Dogs are collected by a trainer/instructor between approximately 8:00am to 9:00am each weekday, and delivered back to the home between 4:30pm and 5:00pm. What is the role of the Home Boarder? The Home Boarder s primary role is the day-to-day care of the dog during the evening and on weekends. Does home boarding cost anything? Guide Dogs SA.NT provides for all your dog s needs, including lead, collar, bed, blankets, brush, food bowls, toys, food, veterinary costs, and worming and flea control products. Do I need to register the dog with my local council? The dog should be registered with your local council, who will issue you with an ID tag. As a Guide Dog/Autism Assistance Dog in training, there will be no registration charge. What about holidays? Guide Dogs SA.NT has a short-term boarding program where families take on puppies/dogs of any age while their Home Boarder is on holidays, sick, or needs a break. Our boarding families are trained in the same manner as our Home Boarders. Shortterm Boarders for dogs undergoing training must be located in the same suburbs as Home Boarders. Who can apply to be a Home Boarder? Home Boarders need to meet the following criteria for acceptance into the program. Location: As dogs are collected and returned to the home each day, it is necessary for Home Boarders to be located in specific suburbs. These suburbs may change from time to time, depending on our business needs. Please contact Guide Dog Services to determine whether you are located in a Home Boarding area. Care and supervision: Home Boarders must be able to provide appropriate care, attention, supervision and leadership, in accordance with Guide Dogs SA.NT standards. Guidelines regarding house manners, toileting and so on are provided with direct supervision from trainers/instructors. Home Boarders must be aged 18 years or over. Transport: Home Boarders need to have access to a car and hold a current drivers licence, to transport the dog to the vet in the case of an emergency. Fenced yard: Home Boarders must have an enclosed and securely fenced yard which is accessible to our staff (so that they can leave the dog in the yard Page 7 of 9

8 if no one is home). Swimming pools, spas and ponds must be securely fenced. Fences must be at least 1.5 metres high. Indoors: Guide Dogs, Autism Assistance Dogs, and Pets as Therapy dogs are inside dogs. The dog must sleep inside the house and spend time inside. Pet dogs: Any other pets in the home need to be compatible with a dog. Pet dogs that are 18 months of age or older, have been well socialised with other dogs, and who will interact in a friendly manner may be acceptable. If there are already one or two other dogs in the house, a staff member will visit and assess whether your dog/s will be compatible with one of our training dogs. Short-term Boarding What is short-term boarding? Volunteer Short-term Boarders assist by caring for either a puppy or dog when our Puppy Raisers or Home Boarders are unable to, or when we feel that a puppy or dog may benefit from experiencing a different environment. Who can be a Short-term Boarder? Anyone who meets either the puppy raising criteria or home boarding criteria may apply to become a Short-term Boarder. How long will I have to care for a puppy/dog? Short-term boarding can vary from just one week, to a few months. Often we contact our Short-term Boarders at short notice, so flexibility is preferred. Does short-term boarding cost anything? Guide Dogs SA.NT provides for all your puppy s/dog s needs, including lead, collar, crate, bed, blankets, brush, food bowls, toys, food, veterinary costs, and worming and flea control products. Puppy Development Centre (PDC) Volunteer What is a PDC volunteer? The PDC volunteer is responsible for the cleaning, care and feeding of pups (and their mother) in our centre for the first eight weeks of their life. Volunteers are rostered over a seven day week for approximately eight weeks. What is the PDC? The PDC is a quarantine area where breeding stock give birth to pups. The mother and pups live in the centre for approximately 8 weeks before the pups are placed in puppy raising homes. What is involved? Volunteers are rostered to work in the centre and must commit to at least two shifts per week for a minimum 8 week period. Roster hours are generally as follows: Weekdays: 8:00am 11:00am Weekends: 8:00am 11:00am Page 8 of 9

9 3:00pm 5:00pm 12:00pm 2:00pm 4:00pm 6:00pm PDC Volunteers will change and wash bedding, sweep and mop floors, feed, groom and administer medication as required. Each volunteer is provided training and support from staff. What if I can t commit to the eight week period? It is extremely important for the brood bitch and pups to have consistency for the duration of their time in our centre. Their early development is vital and consistency is the key to their success. Unfortunately, if you are unable to commit to the shifts and roster, then we are unable to consider you as a PDC volunteer. Can I be a Puppy Raiser/Home Boarder/Short-term Boarder as well as a PDC volunteer? Yes, many of our volunteers have more than one role. We just ask that you leave your pup/dog at home for your shift or tether them in our office and not take them into the PDC with you. Can my children and friends come with me for my shift in the PDC? No. The PDC is a strict quarantine environment and only authorised personnel are allowed access. Your friends are invited to apply and become a volunteer too. PDC volunteers must be aged 18 years or over. Will I be required to deliver pups? No. PDC volunteers start their shifts several days after the brood bitch gives birth to the pups. The whelping (delivery of pups) process is undertaken by qualified, experienced staff. Applying to become a volunteer Please complete the Guide Dog Services Volunteer Application Form (D171) and return it to: Guide Dog Services Guide Dogs SA.NT 251 Morphett St Adelaide SA 5000 We will then contact you by phone to arrange the next step in the application process. Suitability will be determined in accordance with the listed criteria. Page 9 of 9