AN adorable pup soon to become a guide dog has met the person who helped raise the funds to get him trained.

Seven-month-old Tovey met Diana Reeve, the ladies’ captain of Wrag Barn Golf Club, on Wednesday afternoon - just nine months after Diana handed Swindon Guide Dogs a cheque for £5,000.

Diana said: “It has been absolutely amazing to see Tovey, I’m so proud. It’s wonderful to be able to follow his progress and I really hope he will make the grade.

“It is a charity that has always been close to my heart and there wasn’t a moment’s hesitation in choosing my charity last year.

“I think it is a really worthwhile job they do at Swindon Guide Dogs. How they train them to do what they do is absolutely amazing. It is very special and Tovey is just adorable.”

Tovey is currently in the hands of volunteer ‘puppy walkers’, who act as the dog’s guardians until he is ready to progress with the next stage of his training.

Charlotte Taylor-Smith and Paul Taylor, who live in Calne, have for the past five months taken good care of Tovey.

Charlotte said: “He is a fantastic dog. He is really calm and chilled out, which is quite rare for a dog of his age, and he is lovely to have around the house.

“Hopefully he will continue to make good progress.

“We will certainly miss him when he goes. It is heartbreaking, but he will give someone a better quality of life.”

Alan Fletcher, chairman of Swindon Guide Dogs, who lost his sight 11 years ago and is aided by his dog Nutmeg, said: “I think it’s wonderful that Tovey will soon be going on to help someone else like me.

“It’s all about helping a puppy become a working guide dog and be to someone else what Nutmeg is to me.”

Explaining why guide dogs are so important, Alan said: “It means I’m able to get out and about and do some of things I couldn’t do when I first lost my sight.

"We want to help as many visually impaired people as we can and this is just one way of doing it.

“One thing we really need at the moment is puppy walkers and I urge anyone who is interested to get in touch with us.”

Charlotte said: “It is incredibly fulfilling, but you have to fit your life around them. It brings a real sense of purpose to your free time and I would urge anyone who loves dogs to give it a go.”

For more information log on to www.guidedogs.org.uk or call 01189838829.