A CHARITY that trains dogs to become potential life-savers is urgently appealing for puppy fosterers in the York and Harrogate area.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People trains dogs to alert deaf people to important and even life-saving sounds.

The charity has seen an influx of hearing dog puppies born during the summer that need to be placed in homes for up to 16 months from this autumn.

There is currently a shortage of volunteers in York and Harrogate and although there are currently 20 working dogs in these areas, the charity wants to increase this number.

Victoria Leedham, volunteering manager at the charity, said: “It’s definitely been a summer of love at Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and as a result we have experienced a summer puppy boom.

“This means we now have lots of cute little life-changers that are looking for homes in York and Harrogate from the age of eight weeks, so we’re urging anyone who might have the time and commitment needed to give a pup a home for anywhere between 14 and 16 months to get in touch to find out more.”

The role of a puppy socialiser volunteer is to ensure that the puppy gets experience of as many different environments as possible.

They also provide the puppies with housetraining and obedience skills and take them to weekly puppy classes.

The whole process is funded and supported by Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and each puppy socialiser is assigned a supportive local instructor.

For details visit hearingdogs.org.uk or contact 01844-348122.