# Guide Dogs issue heartbreaking plea for help as the charity warns it faces lowest ever number of volunteers to look after puppies

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/guide-dogs-issue-heartbreaking-plea-for-help-as-the-charity-warns-it-faces-lowest-ever-number-of-volunteers-to-look-after-puppies/
- Published: 2026-11-11T17:13:06+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T17:21:11+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16284773/Guide-Dogs-heartbreaking-plea-charity-lowest-number-volunteers-puppies.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: World

## Key points

- Guide Dogs needs about 100 puppy raisers each month.
- Around 830 people are waiting for a guide dog in the UK.
- Volunteers prepare puppies for around 14 months.

## Summary

Guide Dogs says it has its lowest ever number of puppy raisers and is appealing for more volunteers. The shortage could slow the training programme and make it harder to meet demand from people with sight loss who are waiting for a guide dog.

Puppy raisers usually care for a dog for 14 months, helping it build the confidence and skills needed for working life. The charity needs about 100 new raisers each month, while around 830 people in the UK are waiting for a guide dog. MP Steve Darling, who is visually impaired and uses a guide dog, suggested increased dog ownership since the pandemic may have reduced the pool of potential volunteers; the UK dog population is estimated at 15 million.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.