Players of the People’s Postcode Lottery have joined forces with Guide Dogs Charity to support registered blind and partially sighted people in Scotland

An entire litter of nine guide dogs have been funded for the first time, thanks to the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery. The litter of puppies will be financially supported from birth through their training, career as a guide dog, and retirement.

The nine-strong litter, includes Lottie (pictured above). Each pup will help one of the 170,000 partially sighted or registered blind people living in Scotland, enabling them to lead an increasingly independent life.

It costs more than £55,000 to breed and train a young puppy to become a fully confident guide dog - to help someone with sight loss to have the confidence and support they need to live independently.

National corporate partnerships manager at Guide Dogs, Donna Beetham, said: “It costs more than £55,000 to breed and train a young puppy to become a fully confident guide dog - to help someone with sight loss to have the confidence and support they need to live independently. Thank you People’s Postcode Lottery players, for supporting our life-changing work”.

At just sixteen-weeks old, Lottie and her siblings are now being cared for in Edinburgh by one of Guide Dogs’ many volunteers. They will take the pups on city walks, so that they can become familiar with the sounds, sights and smells of a busy city. They will also attend puppy classes where they will learn vital skills they’ll need as a working guide dog, as well as receiving encouragement to interact and play.

Lottie-and-Bella-in-park

Lottie and Bella in the park

At around one year old, all nine golden retrievers will start Guide Dog Training School, and after a year they will be ready to change the life of someone with sight-loss, becoming a crucial canine companion.

Guide Dogs are a charity that came into existence in 1934 and are well-known for their work around training and supplying guide dogs, though their services have developed over the decades, to help people of all ages and with different needs in regards to their sight.

At present Guide Dogs provide life-changing support to two million people across the UK who are living with sight loss and 360,000 people who are registered blind of partly sighted.

Guide Dogs rely on charitable donations to continue their work - canine based and beyond. You can find out more at Guide Dogs.