Annemarie Devlin is senior manager for Scotland for the charity Canine Partners and she is challenging people who love dogs in Milngavie and Bearsden to become a puppy parent.

The charity, which was formed in 1990 as Assistance Dogs for Disabled People before it later changed its name, assists people with disabilities to enjoy a greater independence and a better quality of life through the provision of specially trained dogs.

The dogs, which are usually retriever breeds such as labradors, golden retrievers and crosses of these breeds, go under an intensive 18 month training programme which includes puppy parents taking the dog for around a year.

Annemarie, who has a 11 month labrador called Ellie, said: "We are looking for people to take dogs for around a year in their home.

"We really need our puppy parents to be at home full time, have a secure garden as well as being committed to the programme as they will have to take the dog to special classes once a week.

"The main role for them, however, is socialising the dog. As a puppy parent you would take the dog around Milngavie and Bearsden and do tasks such as take it to the local supermarket, visit a train station so that these places become a familiar environment."

Annemarie, who has worked for the charity for around three months, is hoping to raise awareness of the organisation's work as it is still fairly new to people in Scotland.

Canine Partners estimates that there are around one million people registered disabled in Scotland with around 8000 urgently needing the assistance of a trained dog.

The dogs supplied by the charity make a huge difference to disabled people's lifes because they are trained to problem solve.

Everyday activities such as taking cash out of an ATM, loading the washing machine and doing the shopping are some of the things that the dogs are taught to do which can often be difficult for people with a disability.

Annemarie is also keen to make people with disabilities in the area aware of the benefits the dogs could bring to their lives.

She said: "The dogs are out there and ready to help people. Not only do they open doors to independence but they also ease the minds of carers who are often worried about leaving their loved ones to cope with daily tasks on their own."

If taking on a dog for a year seems like a huge responsibility, Annemarie is also keen to encourage people to help in other ways such as fundraising for the charity as they are currently self-funded and receive no support from the government.

For more information on the charity visit www. caninepartners.co.uk or volunteer call 08454 811 915.