If we had tails, they’d be wagging. It’s a really special moment, picking up your puppy as a volunteer for SA’s guide-dogs association.
Johannesburg, South Africa (21 August 2025) – Some moments just make you feel good about the world, like the video doing the rounds this week. Two South African Guide-Dogs Association volunteers are scooping up their new puppies for the very first time.
There’s this flash of pure, happy joy as they hug and cuddle their little balls of fluff, and honestly, you can’t help but grin.
If you’ve ever wondered what hope looks like, it’s probably got big paws and a tail that won’t stop wagging.
Raising a guide dog puppy isn’t just about puppy breath and cuddles. Although there’s plenty of that to go around. It takes patience and a big, generous heart. But as we’ve shared before, volunteers are the reason these pups grow up to change lives.
You teach them how to sit politely, explore the world, and build up confidence. All the things they’ll need to become someone’s life-changer.
The best part? The Guide-Dogs Association has your back the whole way. They cover food and vet bills, and you get a support team on speed dial. You’ll also find yourself part of a little family of fellow puppy raisers who totally get the highs (and the chewed slippers).
A past volunteer summed it up best.
“That tiny furball you helped raise will grow up to become a protector, a companion, a friend, and a guide – someone’s lifeline. Knowing you played a part in changing a life and making the world a better place is a reward beyond words.”
We’ve seen it time and again, like Rocky, who grew up from a wobbly, eager pup into a real-deal guide dog, all thanks to the volunteers who gave him a brilliant start. The Association never stops needing more hands (and hearts) to help raise the next batch of little legends.
In their own words:
“We need special people to help us raise the next generation of future Assistance Dogs and help us change lives! Our team of pawesome volunteers are central to what we do and we are always looking for more special people to help give our puppies a happy puppyhood.”
If that video made you smile, maybe you’re already halfway there. Volunteers don’t need fancy dog-training skills. Just love, patience, and a willingness to let a pup borrow your heart for a while.
Find out more about becoming a puppy-raising volunteer for the South African Guide-Dogs Association here.
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