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Chilli is a gorgeous black Labrador who was one of the first dogs to be sponsored through the Petbarn Foundation Appeal in 2014. While she initially went into the training program to become a working Seeing Eye Dog, at the 12 month mark it was decided that she would be best suited to be a part of the breeding program.
Nadine Harber, Breeding Program Coordinator at Seeing Eye Dogs, Vision Australia, says that Chilli was "too excellent a breeding choice to pass up."
“The dogs are selected for breeding when they are just over a year old. Their first litter will only be born when they are close to 2 years old. During this time they go through some changes and finish maturing.”
Sired by Spencer, Chilli’s first litter was born on July 12th 2016. She had a beautiful litter of eight, made up of 2 yellow females, 2 black males and 4 yellow males. All of her pups were given names that started with a ‘W’.
Wanda, one of Chilli’s pups from this litter, has truly followed in the paw prints of her mother, as she too has been selected to enter the breeding program after twelve months of training.
More recently, this amazing mum delivered six more puppies - 4 black females and 2 black males on February 5th 2018 - sired by Lenny.
Their names all start with the letter ‘C’. The new pups are currently in the care of our amazing volunteer puppy carers across the country. Cloud, one of the new pups, (both pictured), bears a striking resemblance to her mum Chilli.
Seeing Eye Dogs’ innovative breeding program would not be possible without the incredible assistance of the Petbarn Foundation and 2018 will mark the fifth year of the #SeeingEyeDogsAppeal. With the support of the generous Australian public in 2017, over $670,000 was raised. This year we are looking towards a goal of $800,000.
The donated funds truly make a difference to the development of future Seeing Eye Dogs that will help the blindness and low vision community to continue to live the life they choose.
For more information please visit www.petbarn.com.au/services/pet-foundation#donate