News

BARC – November 2024

Now that it is officially November, it feels appropriate to start getting excited about Christmas! In both this newsletter and our upcoming December newsletter, we will highlight topics to be aware of leading into summer, predominantly around safety at Christmas as it will be upon us before we know it.

We will require the majority of our 212 Temporary Carers onboard for the Christmas period. If you are a Temporary Carer and wish to express your interest for specific dates you are free, you can either update your availability from the last email we sent you, or alternatively, please send us an email to tempcare@guidedogsvictoria.com.au identifying dates you’d be free and able to assist.

Current News

Christmas GDV shutdown period

Please note that our offices will be closed for an organisation-wide shutdown from Wednesday 25 December 2024 to Sunday 5 January 2025 (inclusive). We will return on Monday 6 January.

During this brief period, a small team will be working limited hours to assist you. Please refer to the below dates for relevant team members to contact during this time.

Jade Power
Contact: 0476 013 302
Available:

  • Friday 27 December
  • Monday 30 December

Naomi Wallace
Contact: 0476 013 302
Available:

  • Tuesday 31 December
  • Thursday 2 January
  • Friday 3 January

No staff will be available on designed public holidays (Wednesday 25 December, Thursday 26 December and Wednesday 1 January).

Outside of the shutdown period, Jade Power will be on leave from Tuesday 7 January to Monday 20 January.

Things to remember when caring for and socialising with pups at Christmas

No dress ups for pups
GDV pups have a special role to fulfill in the future and they are classified as working dogs. It is therefore requested that they are not dressed up during the festive season with hats, antlers and the likes, aligning with GDV image guidelines as well as the rules of the Facebook page.

Keep to the socialisation level recommended by your advisor
Please be aware that the shops will be busier than normal with the Christmas rush. It is not a good time to introduce large indoor shopping centres to nine-month-old pups or pups of any age. If they haven’t been introduced to large indoor shops by their advisor already, we would suggest that you wait until after the Boxing Day sales.

Santa photos with the pups can be fun, however, please do not take pups to the shops for a Santa photo if they have not yet been introduced to indoor shopping centres by their advisors. We ask you continue following the socialisation guidelines recommended by your advisor to avoid any unnecessary stress on the pups as they develop.

Temp Carers must follow socialisation levels from the pup’s raiser
As a Temporary Carer you will be sent a confirmation email about the pup you will be caring for. Please ensure you follow the socialisation level detailed in the email and also speak about this with the raiser who hands the pup over to you.

If in doubt as to whether the pup is old enough to be exposed to a certain level of socialisation, please call the advisor assigned to the pup (their number will be in the confirmation email).

Pup’s health calendar
When they are allocated to their new homes, all pups receive in their showbag a health calendar advising the puppy class and vaccination dates.

The older version of these calendars requested a nine-month health check with the GDV vet. This is no longer necessary. Initially, it was put in place to review health concerns with skin irritations and ear infections of some of our dogs, however, with new health protocols in place we feel these conditions are captured in a timely manner.

Expert Tips

Our PAWtal now includes a walk schedule and location guide to where puppies may be socialised and at what age. Please note, this is a guide only as the pup’s individual temperament and socialisation level they are ready for will be guided by your Puppy Development Advisor.

Head to the PAWtal and use the password at the bottom of this email to access and view the walk schedule under imPAWtant links.

Christmas dangers to pups
There are several dangers associated with Christmas for pups and dogs, including the presence and consumption of foods that are extremely dangerous for dogs (e.g. macadamia nuts, chocolate, dried grape products) and the consumption of foreign bodies such as Christmas decorations and gifts that are not usually in your home.

Please ensure you read our article in full on our website so you are aware and vigilant of all dangers to pups during the festive season.

Volunteer Christmas parties

In early November we emailed our current volunteers a Christmas party invite to celebrate your efforts. If you missed these comms or they went to your junk folder, please see below:

As the holiday season approaches, we want to take some time to reflect on the incredible impact you’ve made this year. Your generosity, dedication, and hard work have truly transformed lives, and we are so grateful to have you as part of the Guide Dogs Victoria community.

To celebrate your amazing contributions, we invite you to a festive morning tea! Simply select the location of your choice and join us for a relaxing morning, enjoy some delicious treats, and connect with fellow volunteers who share your passion for making a difference in the lives of others.

Kew

Geelong

Ballarat/Bendigo

For any questions, please contact GDV Event Coordinator, Alisha Ayres at AlishaA@guidedogsvictoria.com.au.

We can’t wait to celebrate together and express our heartfelt appreciation for all that you do.

Inside Cute HQ

Yanda x Irving – W Litter: Ailsa, Whitters, Wilda, Woodrow.

Samira x Schimma – Y Litter: Yannick, Yanzee, Shadow (sponsored), Yari, Yoda, with two extra sponsored pups due to be named.

Paige x Gnocchi – Z Litter: Yet to be named.

Trinity x Elvis – A Litter: Yet to be named.


Image Description: A black Labrador puppy, Whitters sat and looking up at the camera.

Enrichment Groups and Temporary Care training

Enrichment groups are run in your regions weekly, fortnightly or monthly.

All new and experienced Puppy Raisers and Temporary Carers should speak to their Puppy Development Advisor to confirm if the pup in their care is ready to attend an enrichment group. Suitability is guided by your PDA as to each individual pup’s development. Pups must be at least five months or older to attend.

Read the full requirements for attending enrichment groups near you in our PAWtal here.

Simply use the password pawtal-24 to access the PAWtal.

View the list of days and group contact for your region in our PAWtal here.

Simply use the password pawtal-24 to access the PAWtal.

Other items on the PAWtal:

  • Puppy Raising Manual
  • Volunteer Handbook
  • VetChat contacts
  • BARC FB community link and how to join
  • past newsletters
  • temporary care request forms
  • training videos.
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