In "urgent need" of volunteers.
That's a Burnaby-based society's public plea in searching for 20 new volunteer puppy raisers and at least 15 new puppy sitters for its West Coast region.
While there are numerous types of certified assistance dogs, the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS) breeds, raises and trains certified assistance dogs that assist with mobility and PTSD.
As well, it trains hearing dogs that help those with physical disabilities other than blindness.
"The arrival of several litters of puppies in the last few weeks, combined with many of our dedicated PADS volunteers finally getting to go on long-delayed travels, means that we are in need of lots of new people to join in our mission of raising puppies and changing lives," reads a PADS release.
Puppy raisers are volunteers that take young puppies and shape them into capable assistance dog trainees ready to enter Advanced Training.
The subjects focus on three areas of training: skills (such as walking on a loose leash and sitting), manners (settling well, appropriate household behaviour) and socialization (having confidence in the world around them).
PADS says puppy raising is a full-time volunteer opportunity with weekly instruction to help the raiser and puppy grow their skills.
The society notes its a two-year commitment as PADS is working towards reducing its turn-in age to between 15 and 18 months.
The puppy must also be able to go to work or school with the raiser.
Meanwhile, sitters help provide the continuity of training and socialization when the main puppy raiser is unavailable.
PADS says a puppy sitter could be used because of travel plans that don't include the puppy, when the raiser needs a break, to provide the puppy with a different experience or for many other reasons.
Sitters have to be able to puppy sit for at least eight days per month and in blocks of at least three days at a time.
For more information, including how to become a volunteer, you're encouraged to visit PADS' website.
