A CHARITY is urgently appealing for new volunteer puppy socialisers in Warrington.

Dogs for Good, the new name for Dogs for the Disabled, is on the look out for animal lovers like Stockton Heath resident Deborah Bairstow who help transform puppies into life-changing assistance dogs supporting adults and children with a range of disabilities.

As previously reported in the Warrington Guardian in February last year, Deborah and partner Kevin Dee had been caring for Chester after seeing an advert appealing for help on TV.

The pair had an emotional reunion this week with the dog they puppy socialised for a year and are now looking forward to caring for another pup.

Deborah, who says she was delighted to see how Chester had grown into a mature and settled young dog after his specialist training, added: “He looks so good, so happy and fit.

"He’s really grown up and I’m so proud he’s completed his training and is ready to be matched to a family of a child with autism.”

Chester came to live with Deborah and Kevin aged eight weeks.

“I’d always been a dog lover,” says Deborah, “And this seemed an ideal way to volunteer and give something back once I’d retired.

"Puppy socialising is the ideal antidote to retirement.

"I had something to focus on taking Chester out twice a day, exercising him, introducing him to public places and meeting lots of people.

"This was especially good for me as I’d only recently moved to Warrington.”

Deborah admits while it was tough saying goodbye to Chester, they are now looking forward to meeting their new pup.

She added: "It was really upsetting leaving him to start his formal training.

"We missed him really badly because he became totally one of the family.

“Even though you accept it’s going to happen, initially we actually thought we could never do it again.

"But we soon changed our minds.

"When you see what Dogs for Good and its wonderful dogs are doing to transform people’s lives, it’s so worth doing again.”

Kelly Kearey, Dogs for Good autism assistance dog instructor, said: “We’re so grateful to our puppy socialiser volunteers like Deborah. Without their extraordinary commitment we couldn’t train our assistance dogs. They are simply invaluable.”

Volunteers need a secure garden and can not be away from the pup for more than four hours a day.

Visit dogsforgood.org.