Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service goes to the dogs

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service has teamed up with Guide Dogs charity to help train puppies for life-changing roles

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is supporting a joint initiative with the charity Guide Dogs to help train puppies in their vital role of supporting people with sight loss. Firefighters recently collaborated with the Guide Dogs team to give the puppies exposure to the sights, sounds, and experiences of the fire service.

One of the training sessions saw three guide dog puppies – Indigo, Meg, and Stevie – take part in exercises at Northwich Fire Station designed to help them build confidence around emergency responders and fire equipment.

Indigo, a nine-month-old black Labrador cross, was led by Guide Dogs volunteer puppy raisers Nina and Jane. Alongside her were Meg, a five-month-old yellow Labrador cross, accompanied by Ian, and Stevie, a one-year-old black Labradoodle, led by Sue. Puppy Development Advisor for Guide Dogs, Lisa Cooper said: “Reflective and hi-viz clothing, as well as helmets and breathing apparatus that obscure people’s faces, can be scary for pups, so introducing them gradually means we can build positive associations and avoid any fears developing.  

“Being able to take our time and do everything at each individual puppy’s pace meant that we were able to create those positive experiences around the noises and sights of fire engines, fire equipment, and uniform, which is invaluable for our pups to go on to be confident guide dogs of the future.”

Starting their journey with a puppy raiser as early as eight weeks old before they start their formal guide dog training, these puppies will eventually serve as life-changing companions for people with sight loss. The collaborative training with Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is one of many steps taken to ensure the puppies are prepared to confidently face the wide variety of challenges they might encounter in everyday life, including emergencies.

Area Manager Steve McCormick, Head of Prevention and Protection, said: We’re thrilled to partner with Guide Dogs to help these remarkable puppies prepare for their future roles supporting people in the community. The Service will continue to support this essential work, which ultimately protects everyone’s safety in an emergency. Our firefighters thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity to connect with and support our communities in a truly meaningful way.

For more information about Guide Dogs and how you can support their work, visit guidedogs.org.uk.