Guide Dogs Northern Ireland

Keep your dog cool and entertained in the hot weather! ☀️

As the temperature rises, why not try these fun enrichment ideas to help your dog stay safe and stimulated:
💦 Let them splash around in a dog-friendly paddling pool
🧊 Fill a food-dispensing toy with wet food and pop it in the fridge for a cooling snack
💙 Try a scent game in a shady spot to keep their mind busy without risk of overheating
🖐️ Remember pavements can be warm, so check by placing your hand for 5 seconds to see if it's too much for paws
🌴 If out and about - try and stick to the shaded side of the street

Always ensure they have access to plenty of fresh water and avoid playtime during the hottest parts of the day. You may wish to place additional water bowls around your home.

For more summer tips, head over to our website 👉 http://bit.ly/4f2BBVT

[Image shows left to right 2 yellow Labrador x Golden Retrievers sandwiching a black Labrador x Retriever smiling looking upwards in the Belfast outdoor area, in front of a blue paddling pool with toys scattered around]

A huge thank you to Lagan College's Year 11 Hospitality class who raised a fantastic £117.83 for Guide Dogs NI through a coffee morning ☕️

They also raised money for our friends at Lighthouse Charity and Paul & Picasso from the South Belfast Fundraising Group went along to collect the cheque 🐾

If you have an idea for a fundraiser, get in touch by emailing [email protected] ✉️

[Image shows Paul and Picasso surrounded by students and staff from Lagan College, outside the school. Some of the students are holding a large cheque.]

Our fundraising groups across NI urgently need more volunteer fundraisers who can support their local events and help raise money for an important cause. If you enjoy chatting to people, visiting new places and inspiring people to donate to a life-changing cause, this could be the volunteering role for you 🐾

Guide Dogs NI fundraising groups are an important presence in local communities. They organise a wide range of events and collections that raise vital awareness and funds for our life-changing services that support people with sight loss!

It now costs £77,000 to breed, raise and train every guide dog pup to partnership, up from £34,600 in 2019, making the work of these fundraising groups more vital than ever 🦮

For more information on how to join the group in your area, contact [email protected] or visit guidedogs.org.uk/volunteer

[Image shows a collection of volunteers, staff, and dogs standing in front of a Guide Dogs stand with mascot Penny]

Fundraising Volunteer Roles | Volunteering | Guide Dogs UK Become a fundraising volunteer for Guide Dogs and join a local group of people who are making a difference to the lives of people with sight loss.

We are open! 🐾

Not that there was much of a paws for our training dogs Willa and Rocket who enjoyed some off-lead exercise on Friday! 🦮

Academy GDMS’s Julie and Chloe also marked their first 6-month’s in post! Congrats to both of you! 👏

[image 1 shows Rocket and Willa on a platform with some bunting on a fence behind them. Image 2 shows the pair on a platform smiling with field behind them. Image 3 shows Julie kneeling down beside Rocket to give him a cuddle. Image 4 shows Chloe kneeling down beside Willa beside a picnic table]

This Friday we have two huge thank you’s to extend 🐾

The first goes to our Fosterers and all of our volunteers who have been incredibly understanding this week in light of office closures 🦮

The second goes to everyone who shared our Fosterer Appeal and to those who applied (which reached a record number!) Thanks to you we have been able to close the role for recruitment while we begin to train and welcome these new volunteers to the Guide Dogs Family 💙

Our priority now switches to recruiting fundraising volunteers right across Northern Ireland to support our vital work. For more info visit guide dogs.org.uk/volunteer

[Image shows the Guide Dogs NI team standing staggered with dogs in front of the Belfast office and one of the vans]

A quick note from the team at Guide Dogs NI to say thank you to our amazing Fosterers who quickly assisted us today, when the decision was made to close the Belfast office. Your dedication and understanding are greatly appreciated.

Whilst the office is closed, for anyone who should need it, Guide Line is available at 0800 781 1444

[Image shows a rainbow in a cloudy sky. At the end of the rainbow is a Guide Dogs van which reads "Life-changers on board."]

Re-introducing... Willa 🐾

Willa is a 22-month-old yellow Labrador who you may remember, as she was puppy-raised by the Lockharts and now joins us for Early Training 🐾

This is extra special as Willa will be the first dog trained by Chloe Collins-Farrell, in her journey to become a Guide Dog Mobility Specialist as part of the Academy programme 🦮

Please wish both Willa and Chloe all the best of luck in the comments below! 👇

[Image 1 is a close-up of Willa sitting with her feet on a mat and with blue boards behind her. Image 2 shows Chloe kneeling down beside Willa in front of the Belfast office.]

Highlights from our 2026 Volunteer Awards at Parliament Buildings, sponsored by Gordon Lyons MLA 🏆

Click through to discover all the well-deserved winners and nominees. Unfortunately the nominees for the Person-Centred Award couldn't make it, but we are delighted to share that Ken & Julie Craig were the runners-up with Neil & Trudi Cole the winners, all for fostering 🐾

If you've been inspired this sign up at guidedogs.org.uk/volunteer

[33 images with individual descriptions in the captions]