Don't 'paws' for thought, volunteer now for the Guide Dog Appeal (8-10 April)!

"This year's appeal is nearly upon us but we're still short of volunteer collectors," says Jeanette Manson, RNZFB Fundraising Divisional Manager.

"We need to raise $800,000 from the Guide Dog Appeal for guide dogs and other essential services that receive no government funding;

"But without volunteer collectors we simply won't meet this target, and it's the 11,500 blind, vision-impaired and deafblind New Zealanders who will either miss out or wait even longer for services.

Guide dog puppy Hope lying on the grass

2950 volunteers are still needed nationwide -

Auckland / Northland: 700

Waikato: 250

Bay of Plenty: 250

Hawkes Bay: 200

Wellington / Taranaki / Manawatu: 600 Nelson / Marlborough: 200

Christchurch / Canterbury / West Coast: 450

Otago / Southland: 300

If you have two hours (or more!) to volunteer in your area, please phone 0800 DOG DAY (0800 364 329) or volunteer online at www.rnzfb.org.nz.

Guide dogs mean freedom, independence, confidence and companionship, but these important mobility aids come at a high cost.

It costs $22,500 to breed, raise, train and match a guide dog before it graduates as part of a working team. Guide dogs are provided free of charge to the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind's (RNZFB) members. Guide Dog Services receives no government funding, all costs are covered by public donations, legacies and corporate sponsorship.

The 2005 Guide Dog Appeal will be held from Friday 8 - Sunday 10 April.

Please give generously when you see our collectors out and about on the streets or donate $3 by texting GDOG to 883.

ENDS

For more information please contact:
Jane Gower, RNZFB Communications Co-ordinator, jgower Ph: 09 355 6884 or 021 357 412
Sarah Byers, RNZFB Communications Co-ordinator, sbyers Ph: 09 355 6906 or 021 752 875