Wanted: Homes for guide pups

heir futures will be devoted to guiding the blind but right now they're just puppies in need of a home.

About 30 labrador puppies at the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind's guide dog centre in Manurewa will be looking for foster families over the next three months.

Exploring the world with foster families - also known as puppy walkers - is a vital step in the puppies' development as guide dogs, co-ordinator Paula Gemmell says.

"The more places you can take a puppy the better because you're getting the dog used to different smells, noises and situations."

As long as they've got their bibs on, guide puppies can go anywhere from cinemas to shopping malls. MORE>>

About 80 of them are in training around Auckland at the moment, watching Harry Potter and shopping for treats. MORE>>