Dozens of paws-itively delightful pups graduated as guide dogs in Melbourne.
The event set tails wagging with 77 labrador pups making it as guide dogs at the celebration in Hawthorn Town Hall on Saturday.
"It's a seriously feel good day and it's a day to reflect on the fantastic sense of adventure these dogs can bring to our clients," Guide Dogs Victoria chief executive Karen Hayes said.
The animals would not only help people get around more easily in the community but could help expose them to new activities.
"One of our clients had never tackled anything like long-distance bushwalking before but now he takes his guide dog with him and he never thought he could do that," Ms Hayes said.
More than 420 people including puppy-raisers and donors packed the hall to celebrate the successful dogs.
"They can come and see how they've contributed to somebody who is blind or low vision and this is an opportunity to fulfill journey from puppy to guide dog," she said.
Dogs are matched with their new humans based on a number of factors including physical size, activity and personality, she said.
It costs up to $50,000 to train a single puppy and funds mainly came through donations.
But the organisation urged people who wanted to help to consider becoming carers with up to 35 needed ahead of Christmas.
Carers take care of a puppy for 12 months teaching them basic training skills and receive plenty of support from the organisation.
Australian Associated Press
