A black dog wearing a bright green service vest sits on a brick pavement at Killarney Railway Station in Ireland, looking up at the camera.

Puppy Raiser, Niamh Buckley

The way we look at it is, the work we put in as Puppy Raisers could be the reason somebody gains back their independence.

We first heard of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind Puppy Raising Programme on a Facebook post. It looked like such an interesting and fun thing to do. We have a dog ourselves but loved the thought of having another puppy in our home, even if only for a little while. We went through all the checks and were successful.

Enzo became a part of our family in August 2021 and life has been great since. He is so sweet and caring and full of life.

Two dogs, one black and one cream-colored, relax together on a wooden floor next to a person sitting on a gray couch.

Puppy raising plays such a huge roll in the work Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind does. We help teach the puppies the basics and get them socialised.

We’re all for helping in any way we can and having the chance to be a Puppy Raiser means I get to give back to those in need. We love having Enzo; he makes us smile so much every day and it will be a bittersweet day when he goes back to puppy college, but we are so proud of the cool dude he’s become.

A black Labrador retriever sits on a sandy beach with a gentle smile, looking directly at the camera with bright eyes.

As Puppy Raisers we play such a vital role in the development of the puppies. Enzo is a big part of our family and watching him grow up has been wonderful. Each pup has their own quirks. Enzo would do anything for a blackberry and some tummy rubs. The way we look at it is the work we put in as Puppy Raisers could be the reason somebody gains back their independence.