Plea for guide dog fosterers to help 'change lives'

Guide dog fosterer Amy Cochrane said looking after Robert was "amazing"

A volunteer guide dog fosterer is calling for more people to join the cause and help "change lives."

Amy Cochrane, from Gateshead, who looks after Robert - a cross between a golden retriever and labrador - said parting with him would be sad, but knowing he would be someone's lifeline meant "everything".

She is backing the Guide Dogs campaign to attract more North East fosterers to help care for 24 new dogs arriving later in the year.

The regional branch said 20 new fosterers were needed to help home the dogs and also give current fosterers a break.

Guide dog in-training Esther will be ready for the challenge in six months

Training a guide dog takes about six months, during which time the animals attend “school” from Monday to Friday.

Fosterers drop the dogs off for training and look after them in the evenings and at the weekends.

Mrs Cochrane, 30, said fostering had been "amazing" for her and her husband.

They both work full time and felt it would not be fair to have their own dog.

"Fostering is the perfect way to have the company of a dog, but know that it's being very well cared for through the day," Mrs Cochrane said.

"We love finding out what he's been doing at school.

"He's going to be a life-changer".

It takes about six months to train a guide dog for its new role

It costs around £55,000 to train and support a guide dog throughout its life.

All fostering food and vet bills are covered and fosterers are not out of pocket.

Claire Devine, from the organisation, said being fostered was good for the dogs.

"I think it's that consistency of being in a home environment, which prepares them for the kind of environment they're going to go into as guide dogs," she said.