Guide dog group educates and fundraises with Tesco stall
A DEDICATED band of volunteers took the opportunity to educate shoppers at Tesco Wexford on the work of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, while also raising some funds for the organisation.
The local branch of the charity raised €38,257.20 through fundraising activities in 2017.
The charity trains dogs for blind and visually impaired people in Ireland to give them independence and enable them to live a more active life. In recent years, they have trained assistance dogs for families of children with autism. The charity is over 40 years in existence and is based in Cork.
The Wexford branch is very active when it comes to fundraising and is always looking for new volunteers with new ideas. There is a large number of working dogs throughout the county.
A spokesperson for the local branch said: ‘We would like to sincerely thank the people of Wexford for their continued support when we are out collecting; whether you can give a little or a lot, it is all appreciated. A guide dog’s working life is about eight years. They are usually fully trained between the age of 20 months and two years, and work until they are around ten.
‘Two of our guide dogs in Wexford are now over nine and will need to be replaced next year; hopefully we can continue helping with raising the much-needed funds as the charity receives very little funding from the government, and it does great work for people who need their services.’
People can volunteer with the charity or organise an event in their local area which the group would be happy to assist with. The group is also appealing to companies to consider the ‘Sponsor A Pup’ campaign, while ‘puppy raisers’, people who take pups into their house for a year, are also in need.
The charity also provides school and educational talks to groups as well as offering tours of the training centre in Cork.
To register your interest in helping the charity, contact the Irish Guide Dogs at 1850 506 300 or 021 487 8200.