Chantry Middle School, is sponsoring three guide dogs and we wanted to find out more so we went to speak to Miss Mackenzie (who organised the sponsorship).

What are their names?

Una, Zac and Lexi.

When did we start sponsoring them?

During October and November.

How did we raise the money?

Year 7 did six bake sales.

How much money did we raise?

£300!

Why did the school sponsor them?

Because we had a visit from a guide dog called Ellie and her owner Mrs Wilson and we wanted to support them. Also, it linked with Year 7 English topic: Animals and Man.

Have you got a favourite puppy?

Probably Lexi because she has changed a lot and she has a secret claim to fame: Her sister, Luna, is a star on ITV’s ‘This Morning’

Click ‘continue reading’ to find out more about our puppies.

What are the ‘pupdates’?

Pupdates are when you get updated on the dogs showing fascinating stories and photos which show the difference we are making.

When will we get the next pupdate?

The next pupdate is in June and we will keep getting them for two years (until their training is over). You can keep an eye on the pupdates page for more.

Have you got a dog?

I have two bull terriers called Bounty and Rocko (on photo).

What do you get if you sponsor a puppy?

You get a personalised certificate (which is on a display in our classroom), regular pupdates, a photo of your sponsored puppy, a puppy calendar at the end of each year and a fridge magnet of your puppy (which is on the staffroom fridge!).

How the pups are doing:

• Zac Knows all the basic commands and and is learning more advanced ones. He now can guide people through doors and has learned to be calm in excitable situations. Also, he has learnt to be obedient in busy places. He has new owners and is doing very well. Good luck Zac!
• Lexi is settling well into her new home and is using different sights and sounds that will be useful in further training. Lexi is doing great at meeting other animals such as horses! To help her with socialisation skills Lexi visits a local school which doesn’t just help Lexi, it lets children understand more about guide dogs. Good luck!
• Una is doing well in her new home at Cambridge and has been really busy visiting lots of new places. She has been to supermarkets, shops and restaurants and has even had a trip to London! She has been to the cinema and her trainer said, “She was very good throughout the whole movie, but perhaps it wasn’t her kind of film as she slept through most of it!” She is moving onto ‘stairs’ already! Good luck!

By Alice and Alice, Year 7.