Recent research has shown that volunteering is good for your health and that owning a dog can have a positive impact on your mood and general wellbeing. All of which is no surprise to Linda Myatt,from Wortley, who is a volunteer puppy walker for Guide Dogs in Leeds.
Puppy walking prepares guide dog puppies for their working life ahead by familiarising them with different environments and experiences around the home, in towns and on public transport. Volunteer puppy walkers provide the full-time care and education of a puppy from six weeks of age until they are between 12 and 14 months old, when they begin their formal training at Guide Dog school.
Linda has been puppy walking since 2009 and is currently on her 5th puppy, Korky, a 7 month old yellow Labrador. She said “I started puppy walking when I took early retirement in 2009. I wanted to volunteer to keep myself busy and chose Guide Dogs because I love dogs and also because my Dad was registered blind, although he never had a Guide Dog. Puppy walking requires commitment and can be challenging but I love being able to take Korky anywhere with me and introducing him to all the different sights and sounds that he will have to get used to as a Guide Dog.”
Linda is also a regular at the Leeds Blood Centre where she has been donating blood and platelets since 1998. All her puppies have accompanied her to the centre and Korky is already a regular. He goes everywhere with Linda, even accompanying her to Leeds United matches.