Service dogs are in serious demand right now, but there aren’t enough of them to go around. According to reporting by The New York Times, The shortage has gotten so severe that a growing number of people are stepping up to become volunteer “puppy raisers,” per The New York Times.

These volunteers not only house the puppies, but also take them to weekly training classes, engage them in social activities, and prepare them for official service dog training once they hit about 18 to 24 months old. It’s a full-time commitment for volunteers, and more are urgently needed.

“Some of our members say the shortage has reached a critical stage,” Chris Diefenthaler, executive director of Assistance Dogs International, said, according to Assistance Dogs International. “They are having to delay the placement of an assistance dog with desperate families and individuals because a shortage of volunteer puppy raisers and socializers means they can’t train assistance dogs fast enough.”

Wait times for receiving a trained service dog have now stretched to more than a year, according to the organization, which accredits nonprofit service dog providers. Recruiting volunteers remains a challenge, in part because the role is unpaid and emotionally taxing—volunteers often form strong bonds with the dogs before ultimately having to give them up.

“Research has shown that while over 90 percent of us want to volunteer, only 1 out of 4 Americans actually do,” Amy Yotopoulos of the Stanford Center on Longevity said.

Volunteer puppy raising programs support individuals who are blind or have disabilities that require the assistance of a service dog to live independently. Traditionally, service dogs were trained primarily to guide people who are visually impaired. But in recent years, their roles have expanded significantly.

Today, service dogs assist individuals with epilepsy, autism, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other conditions. Some are even trained to detect changes in blood sugar levels or provide support during panic attacks.

There are also programs that help everyday pet owners train their own dogs to become service animals. One standout is the Veterans Canine Intelligence Academy in Southern California, which offers a free program where volunteers teach pet owners how to turn their pups into legitimate support dogs.