COULD you give up a bit of time to help look after any of these cute pups?

Charity Dogs for Good is desperate for volunteers to help socialise their dogs.

The organisation, based at the Frances Hay Centre in Banbury and registered as a charity in 1988, helps disabled people by training assistance dogs.

It has helped hundreds of families by giving them highly trained assistance dogs.

But it needs people to come forward to help train even more.

Volunteer Kevin McIver is a member of the Banbury group and said: "Without a doubt, helping to prepare a pup to become an assistance dog is one of the best things that I’ve ever done.

"It’s hard work, but great fun and I’ve made so many friends through the pups I’ve cared for.

"When you see your pup go on to help someone, it’s just a fantastic feeling to know you’ve played a small part in making that happen. I would recommend it to anyone."

Oxford Mail:

The group showed off some of the puppies at the Sainsbury's in Oxford Road, Banbury, on Monday.

It is looking for people who can care for dogs from about eight weeks old until they are about 16 months old.

The job of the "puppy socialisers" is to expose the pups to basic obedience training and introduce them to diverse environments such as shopping centres, cafes, hospitals and public transportation.

Anyone interested in volunteering is invited to the same Sainsbury's again on Monday, and will have the opportunity to speak with current puppy socialisers and staff from Dogs for Good.

More information can be at the organisation's website at www.dogsforgood.org, and interested applicants should apply online by October 14.

What do you need to become a puppy socialiser?

Although no experience is necessary, puppy socialisers are required to meet the following criteria:

You have a fully-fenced safe and secure garden

You are away from the puppy for no more than two hours (in the first few weeks) and four hours (for the remaining time you have the puppy) per day

Have no more than two existing pet dogs

That you drive or have access to someone at all times who can drive you and the puppy

With support train the puppy in the basics, i.e. house training, general obedience and walking on the lead

Able to spend some time every day on activities to socialise the puppy. Environments that need to be covered at some time include train stations, buses, shops and crowded and rural areas

To be able to attend monthly puppy classes and allow home visits from a member of our puppy training team

You are able to provide the puppy with regular contact with children, other dogs and cats.