Homes for retirees

Some people who fail to gain entry to the puppy raising program opt for the next best thing.

"I applied to the training center in the hope of becoming a volunteer puppy raiser. But my request was turned down because the program only operates in Dalian. I felt very depressed," said Wang Ping, a 36-year-old Beijing resident who cares for a retired guide dog.

"Fortunately, I finally got Bobo, a 6-year-old who had just retired. I was so excited when I picked her up from the training center (in Dalian) during the Dragon Boat Festival two years ago. It took nearly 16 hours to drive there from Beijing," the former accountant said.

For three years, Bobo, who was born in September 2010, was the only guide dog in Xi'an, Shaanxi province. She joined Guo Xuexia, a visually impaired masseur, in 2013.

Wang Ping's family is the only one in the capital to house a retired guide dog. "I gave up my job to take care of Bobo. Now, she is like a daughter. I lost six years of being with her, but now we spend every minute together," she said.

"I hope more people will learn about guide dogs and offer them shelter, no matter whether they are young or in their twilight years. They have given almost their whole lives to serving people, so it's our responsibility to take care of them."

Meanwhile, the fostering process may become a circular activity because some families propose to not only offer homes to puppies, but also provide shelter for retired guide dogs.

Han, the coordinator from the training center, said: "Normally, when a guide dog finishes its service life it spends its remaining years with the blind person. But now more people are offering to look after retired dogs, especially people who have been volunteer puppy raisers."

Liu Chang, a 36-year-old, is raising a brown Labrador puppy named O.P. in Dalian.

"My family won't raise another dog after O.P. returns to the training center in October," she said.

"Instead, we will wait for her to retire, and take her home again. No matter if it takes eight or 10 years, we will wait for her at home."