MORE puppy walkers are needed in our area to help raise the next generation of guide dogs.

Chris Pinder, from Braintree, has just taken in puppy number 25, an 11 week old Labrador called Jimmy, and wants others to see how rewarding the role is.

She said: “I have had dogs all my life and it’s so difficult when they come to the end of their lives - so I decided to become a puppy walker.

“Every day is different – I could be taking the dog out on a walk, getting it used to trains, buses or the seaside.

“I also meet a lot of people when out and about, and continually raise awareness of Guide Dogs to the public as they see me with the pup in his blue coat.”

The role is not all fun and games and puppy walkers are responsible for feeding, training and generally caring for a puppy’s needs on a daily basis until they are ready to become a guide dog.

But for Mrs Pinder, all the hard work is well worth it.

She said: “Although hard when parting with the guide dog puppy after a year, it’s so rewarding to know that the dog will go on to help people with sight loss gain independence and freedom.

“You either just try it for a year with one dog or you become addicted like me and cannot stop.

“When a guide dog owner gets in touch with me to say thank you for puppy walking their life changing dog, it really feels so rewarding and it’s lovely to get their feedback.”

Charity Guide Dogs UK are looking for puppy walkers in Braintree, Witham, Kelvedon, Marks Tey and Hatfield Peverel.

A spokesman said: “Without our wonderful volunteer puppy walkers we would not be able to raise the next generation of life changing guide dogs.

“The time and commitment that our puppy walkers dedicate helps our puppies develop all of the basic skills they need to go on and train to be the guide dogs of the future.”

To find out more contact Lisa Cooke on lisa.cooke@guidedogs.org.uk or 01189 838713.