Guide Dogs looking for volunteer puppy walkers in Greater Manchester

GUIDE Dogs are appealing for puppy walkers in the Greater Manchester area. Volunteers are needed for the full time care and
education of the guide dog pups from six weeks until approximately 12 to 14 months of age, when they are returned to the Atherton Training School to begin specialised guide dog training.

Jane Rawlinson, Guide Dogs’ puppy walking supervisor explains:- “We’re looking for enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers who can care for the pups full time because at the end of the day, if we don’t have puppy walkers we don’t have guide dogs. Puppy walking is challenging and it’s a real commitment to take a puppy in to your home for a year, but with the support of Guide Dogs staff, our volunteers find it extremely rewarding and worthwhile.”

The young dogs will spend much of their first year of life living with the puppy walker volunteers in their home; they will teach them basic obedience and get them used to a home environment, noise and the bustle of towns. They will prepare the pup for their working life ahead which includes taking them on public transport including, trains and buses. A young guide dog puppy is a full time companion for its temporary owners, who find it so rewarding to raise a dog who will one day give a blind person a new independence by acting as their eyes.

Guide Dogs supplies basic equipment and covers all veterinary and feeding expenses. To become a puppy walker, volunteers will
need to have access to a car. They will have to be home for most of the day, and free to take their puppy into many varied environments – sometimes busy and difficult. Their yard or garden will also need to be securely fenced so that the puppy remains safely within its confines.

If you would like to request more information about volunteering for the charity as a puppy walker, please call Guide Dogs’ on:- 0845 371 7771 or via email  and can also visit:- guidedogs.org.uk/puppywalkingg 

Three 'Knife' Robbers at large.  Appeal for help.

MERSEYSIDE Police Detectives have issued an appeal for information following two robberies that occurred within a short time of each other on the evening of Wednesday, 30 December 2009.

The first incident occurred at about 5.55pm at a house on Rockwell Road, West Derby, when three men, one believed to be armed with a knife, forced their way into the house and threatened the occupants. The men threatened the victims and demanded cash before escaping with the money and a laptop computer.

At approximately 6.50pm on the same evening three men forced their way into an address on Whitebeam Drive, Croxteth. One of the men produced a knife and threatened the occupants who were forced to hand over jewellery and cash. The men also stole a Mercedes car that was parked on the driveway.

The offenders in both incidents are described as white and were wearing dark clothing and spoke with Liverpool accents. One of the men was described as 5ft 10in - 6ft tall, slim with fair hair and another was described as 5ft 8in tall and medium to chubby build.

Detective Constable Andy Bason, said:- "These attacks have left the victims at both addresses extremely traumatised. A number of distinctive diamond encrusted Rolex and Tag Hauer watches were stolen from the second address. As well as being valuable they are of great sentimental value and I would urge anyone with information about these incidents, however small, to contact me. We are doing all we can to identify these offenders and bring them to justice."

Anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously prior to either of the robberies, or who has information which could help our inquiries, can contact Detectives at St Anne Street Police Station on:- 0151 777 481 or Crimestoppers on:- 0800 555 111.