NOT ONLY CUTE, BUT GROWING UP TO DO AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB AT THE UNIVERSITY

Atom, a  three-month-old labrador retriever and possible future guide-dog-in-training, brings a smile to the faces of our students every day, because he is being raised by László Varga, IT staff member of UM's Directorate for Education and Quality Assurance.

László Varga has joined the Baráthegy Guide Dog School's volunteer puppy training programme, which is the foundation of guide dog training. The puppy raiser takes in a puppy from the age of 2-3 months until the age of 12-15 months, after which the puppy is returned to the foundation, where it starts its special training.

"As a puppy raiser, we have to teach Atom the tasks of a preschooler: housebreaking, no begging off the table, responding to his name, stopping at the curb, following orders, and being able to ride public transport. He needs to be brought up in an as stimulating environment as possible, so that he is not distracted by these things when he is on duty. That's why, with the rector's permission, he comes to the university with me every day to get used to the hustle and bustle," explains László Varga.

The school has a puppy-raising adviser who they can call at any time if they have a problem or want advice on something. "We have a very good relationship with the foundation, they are very fair and helpful. They give us practically everything with the dog: his indoor kennel, his food, medical care, his leash, his collar, we basically 'just' have to give the dog our time and attention," he explains.

"It's a service on our part that my family and I are very happy to do because we believe it's our duty to help others. It's also my motto: we were not born to only live for ourselves," he explains, adding that "it's a wonderful job, which I won't say is easy, but it gives us a lot too."