This week, various media outlets highlighted the story of the Morgan family from Stafford, who are making volunteering for Guide Dogs a family affair! Three generations – grandmother, mother and daughter – help the charity to care for and train guide dog puppies to help the pups go on the change the life of someone with sight loss.
It all began when 76-year-old Barbara Morgan signed up to be a puppy raiser after seeing a Guide Dogs poster appealing for volunteers. Barbara has since raised four guide dog puppies, inspiring daughter Cheryl to get involved, with Cheryl now also having raised four guide dog puppies herself. This led to Cheryl’s daughter Ellie to volunteer for the puppy raiser role as soon as she turned 18, after seeing just how much her mum and grandmother loved the role.
Cheryl said: "About five years ago my daughter was nagging for a dog. We had cats and a rabbit and I knew a dog would be a big responsibility. Then something just clicked and I realised I could become a puppy raiser instead.”
Cheryl started by fostering a guide dog for a few nights – a role where volunteers look after guide dogs in training during evenings and weekends. After falling in love with fostering, she applied to become a puppy raiser.
The family currently has a seven-month-old golden retriever called Aura, who Cheryl and Ellie raise together. Cheryl said: “You get so much out of it. Knowing what they go on to do makes it entirely worthwhile. It's the best job in the world.”
