Are you looking for a way to give back to the community? Perhaps you’re a devoted dog lover who isn’t able to make a long-term commitment. If you think you have the love, time, and patience it takes to raise, socialize, and train a puppy, then you might be exactly what these gorgeous pups need.
Leader Dogs for the Blind is a nonprofit organization that provides people who are blind or visually impaired with lifelong skills that can allow them to live safely and independently using a guide dog or a white cane. Their services are provided free of charge, and right now, they need your help.
After a particularly fruitful year, Leader Dogs for the Blind have found themselves with a larger-than-average number of Labrador and Labrador cross puppies, and they need volunteers to help raise them.
Volunteers spend approximately one year working with a Future Leader Dog, developing the foundation they’ll need before advancing to formal guide dog training. With help from a puppy counselor and local puppy-raising groups, you’ll learn how to teach:
- Basic cues like sit, stay, and leash walking
- Critical skills such as maintaining focus despite distractions
- Confident navigation through various environments
- Appropriate greetings and home manner
This is an amazing opportunity for families, couples, and individuals. No previous dog training experience is necessary—the Leader Dog program provides all the support and resources you’ll need.
Not only will you get the satisfaction of training a well-behaved puppy, but you’ll also be helping to provide independence to someone who is blind, and make a meaningful contribution to society. But remember, you will have to say goodbye at the end!
Volunteers will need to be able to collect their puppy from Leader Dog’s campus in Rochester Hills, Michigan.
Are you ready to make a difference? Visit LeaderDog.Org/Volunteer or call 888-777-5332 today to learn how you can help transform a puppy into a life-changing guide dog.
All Leader Dogs for the Blind services are provided free to clients thanks to volunteers and donations from individuals, foundations, corporations, and service organizations like Lions Clubs International. Leader Dog receives no government funding or insurance payments. If you don’t think you can take in a Future Leader Dog, there are lots of different ways you can help this wonderful organization continue their work. Check out the Leader Dog website to learn more about Leader Dogs for the Blind and how you can make a difference.
