NEWTON Abbot Travel Club members met some adorable puppies when they visited the Guide Dogs for the Blind National Breeding Centre to hand over a donation of £600 and learn about the centre’s work.

At the centre in Leamington Spa, members heard how it costs £30,000 to train a puppy to be a guide dog.

Carol Swiecicka, of the Newton Abbot club, said: ‘We saw some adorable puppies which everyone would have liked to have brought home, and learned about the training and costs.

‘It’s £30,000 to train a puppy and the approximate cost for their working life is in the region of £55,000.

‘During the working life of the guide dog, ownership of the dog is held by the Guide Dogs Association who pay all costs.’

This year, about 1,350 puppies will be bred at the national centre.

Not all will make the grade as full guide dogs but those that don’t pass can still have a working role as ‘buddy dogs’.

Carol added: ‘In the UK almost two million people are living with sight loss and the Guide Dogs Association can help them to live a full and rewarding life.

‘We were told 180,000 people with sight loss rarely leave home and only one in three of working age is employed.

‘We were also shown the various types of harness dogs use.

‘Most of us see the white harness with a handle but we were not aware that a white harness with red stripes indicates the owner has limited or no hearing as well as limited or no sight.

‘During the tour we were given an opportunity to go through a blacked out tunnel with different floorings to give an idea of what these feel like.

‘After the tour, tea and biscuits were provided and the day proved to be a most informative and interesting visit reflecting how little people know how the centre operates.’