Week Five

Since writing the last blog poor Osborn has been very ill with an auto immune condition.  He is going to visit the Guide Dogs' vet hospital at Tollgate today.  The specialist team will look after him, with the aim of finding ways of preventing further weight loss, and fingers crossed, getting him on the road to a full recovery. Understandably, puppies need be very fit to pursue a career as a guide dog, and it may be that Osborn's health may mean a career as a Guide Dog is not possible.  But the good news is, if he isn't fit enough, there is a waiting list of people wanting to adopt guide dog puppies as pets, in a similar position to Osborn - and retired guide dogs.  So, he'll go to a happy home.  And who knows, some dogs that don't quite make it as guides find alternative careers; for example, as hearing dogs, support dogs, sniffer dogs and companion 'buddy' dogs.  

No one could have anticipated what's happened to Osborn. It's a very sad time for us, and it will be very quiet around here for a while - but our thoughts are with our brave guide dog puppy, and when there is more news about Osborn we will let you know in the blog.  Even though we know these puppies do not belong to us, we still treat them and love them just as much as if they were our own.  My supervisor has sent me a massive bouquet of flowers in Guide Dogs yellow and blue to say thank you, which was such a lovely thought.

On a happier note, my supervisor is doing her utmost to find another puppy as soon as possible. As Guide Dogs don't like to place pups this close to Christmas, its my understanding that they try and plan litters a little around this, so all I know is that its going to be very early January.