Fourteen puppies destined for a future of helping those with disabilities are looking for temporary homes.
The Pacific Assistance Dogs Society is looking for volunteers to raise its latest batch of puppies for the next 18 to 24 months before they're ready to help their new owners.
"Their first year is very much about going everywhere and doing everything that ultimately a client would do in their lives," Gail Ferrier of PADS told CTV News.
The foster parents will need to bring the pups in for weekly training, and then will have to say goodbye once the vocational training is complete.
Breeder Lee Magis admits that it is tough to part with the dogs, but the heartbreak is worth it.
"There's lots of tears, but lots of joy as well," she said.
In the end, the dogs will help people like Mary-Jo Fetterly, who was left a quadriplegic after a skiing accent seven years ago.
She says her dog Jolie has made a huge difference in her life since the two were paired up last year.
"She's an incredible companion, besides the fact that she's practical and really helpful. She's just a delight and a really good friend," Fetterly said.
Jolie is one of 100 assistance dogs at work in B.C. Training for each dog costs about $75,000, and PADS says donations have been hard to come by in recent years. This year marks the first time the organization has received government funds.
For more information about PADS or to volunteer as a foster puppy parent, visit the society's website.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Bhinder Sajan
