A TEAM of ‘puppy midwives’ based in Leamington have been shortlisted for a national award.
The Breeding Dog Advisor Team work for sight loss charity Guide Dogs making sure guide dog mums, dads and puppies receive the best care.
The 15-strong team – nicknamed the ‘puppy midwives’ – have delivered over 1,000 puppies this year and are responsible for around 250 guide dog mums, who all live permanently in volunteers’ homes.
And the dads aren’t forgotten either, with two team members dedicated to ensuring that the charity’s 90 guide dog fathers, who also live with volunteers, are well looked after too.
The group were shortlisted for the ‘expert’ award at the charity’s People Awards, which were held earlier this month in Manchester.
Kelly Newton, operations manager responsible for the Breeding Dog Advisor Team, said: “It’s brilliant that our team have been recognised for the important part they play in helping Guide Dogs create life-changing guide dog partnerships across the UK.
“All the team work extremely hard to ensure our guide dog parents and offspring receive exemplary care, 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.
“Similar to midwives, they make regular visits to our volunteers, with additional support provided as our mums approach their due date and after they’ve given birth to their litters.
“Our team even visited a litter that were unexpectedly born early on Christmas Day last year.
“They really do go above and beyond, and their contribution deserves to be recognised.”
