Leader Dogs for the Blind wants volunteers in December and January to raise 65 puppies for one year before they start training. The Rochester Hills, Michigan-based nonprofit encouraged the public to help on Tuesday, as shared in a press release published at GlobeNewswire.
Volunteer puppy raisers will bring dogs into their homes. They’ll teach basic skills that prepare them to guide someone who is blind or visually impaired. No prior experience? Doesn’t matter. You can still take part.
“Puppy raisers are the beginning of every success story at Leader Dog,” said Vijay Joshi, Manager of Raiser and Host Experience, via the GlobeNewswire press release. “They give our puppies love, structure, and new experiences that shape who they become. Their impact reaches far beyond that first year; they help someone gain independence.”
Volunteers will get what they need. A dedicated puppy counselor provides guidance. Starter supplies such as toys, a collar, and a leash come with the program. Online training modules and community support are also available.
The group offers options such as co-raising, which lets people share duties between households. The pass-along program splits the year into two six-month terms. These options make the experience accessible to families, retirees, and working professionals.
“Each time a puppy leaves our Canine Development Center in a volunteer’s arms, it’s more than a beginning; it’s the moment independence starts taking shape,” said Joshi, as per GlobeNewswire.
Leader Dogs for the Blind is a nonprofit that gives people who are blind or visually impaired the skills for safe and independent daily travel using a guide dog or a white cane. All services are provided free of charge. The group also trains guide dogs for people who are DeafBlind, offers a summer camp for teens, and holds seminars for orientation and mobility professionals and university students.
Manny P., a client, shared his experience with his guide dog Ivy. “Leader Dog Ivy is really going to help me walk with confidence. That’s something I noticed with my last dog. I’m able to get places faster, with more confidence. Other than being my best friend, she’s going to help me go through life as seamlessly as possible. We are going to travel the country and go everywhere together,” they said, according to Globe Newswire.
The group needs volunteer raisers now to keep the dogs’ training on schedule. Each of the 65 puppies represents a future partnership that will change a life.
Those interested in becoming a puppy raiser can visit LeaderDog.org/Volunteer/ or call 888-777-5332. The program will start accepting new volunteers in December.