FB pixel
A smiling girl walking with a white cane on a sidewalk surrounded by fall leaves. With her are two adult women.

Cane Quest at Leader Dog

White Cane Safety Day is celebrated every year on October 15! This day celebrates the white cane as an essential tool that gives individuals who are blind or visually impaired a life full of independence. The white cane provides people ...
Continue Reading This Article
A closeup selfie of a woman, Jill, and a German shepherd, Leader Dog Hannah, in the front passenger seat of a car. Jill is smiling and wearing a winter coat, scarf and knit headband. Hannah has her pink tongue slightly hanging out of her mouth. In the background is a children play structure and a line of trees without leaves.

Voice of the Leader Dog Community: Jill

NOTE: Today’s posts are a reprinting of an article titled “How Not to Be Awkward around Your Disabled Colleagues/Students” written by Jill Hinton Wolfe of Grand Valley State University that was originally published on HigherEdJobs.com. I know all about awkward ...
Continue Reading This Article
Mark sits on a park bench with flowers and greenery behind him. Yellow lab Leader Dog Izzy sits in front of him on the cement in her harness.

Three Journeys with Leader Dogs

Fifteen years ago I began my journey to receive my first Leader Dog, Callie. [Guide Dog Mobility] Instructor Sue guided me through the new experience of learning the commands, what the dog is capable of in times of any difficult ...
Continue Reading This Article
A woman with short, grey hair wearing a grey polo shirt with the old Leader Dog logo and khaki pants. She has a large smile on her face and her left arm is hugging a yellow Labrador retriever that is wearing a brown leather Leader Dog harness. The dog is light, golden tan with darker gold ears.

Voice of the Leader Dog Community: Pauline

This entry in the Voices of the Leader Dog Community was submitted by Lion Alescia “AJ” Johns, who titled her piece “Pauline’s Big Adventure.” The person she is referring to is LDB client Pauline Ulrey. Pauline has been living life ...
Continue Reading This Article
Helaine and her current Leader Dog, Zara. They are sitting on a bench and Helaine has her left arm around Zara’s shoulders. Helaine is wearing black slacks, a purple long-sleeve shirt and a brightly patterned yellow, tan and red scarf; she has a large smile on her face. Zara is a yellow golden retriever/Labrador retriever cross. She has dark eyes and a dark nose. She is leaning into Helaine and is wearing a brown leather Leader Dog harness.

Voice of the Leader Dog Community: Helaine

Hello. I’m Helaine and my Leader Dog #2 is Zara; we were matched in April of this year. I waited a very long time for Zara due to Covid and the brutal Texas heat! It was very hard to be ...
Continue Reading This Article
Gary Sinise Foundation and Leader Dog logos side by side

Gary Sinise Foundation + Leader Dog

Gary Sinise Foundation Provides $350,000 Grant to Leader Dogs for the Blind to Benefit America’s Veterans and First Responders On National Assistance Dog Day, the Gary Sinise Foundation announced a $350,000 grant to Leader Dogs for the Blind to support ...
Continue Reading This Article
A dark-haired woman leans over on a sunny porch, hugging and kissing a yellow lab lying next to her

We Can’t Do It Without You

If you’ve ever donated to Leader Dog, served as a volunteer, attended one of our events, hosted a fundraiser or supported Leader Dog in the many big and small ways that people do every day, you’ve probably heard us say ...
Continue Reading This Article
A man with a white cane walks on sidewalk toward camera. It's sunny and there's grass along the path. He is followed by another man.

A Million Thank Yous!

By Stuart M., Orientation & Mobility Client I wanted to take a moment and reflect on & thank you for a truly life-changing experience for me. From the moment I connected with you, I could tell that Leader Dogs was ...
Continue Reading This Article
A smiling woman with short blond hair holds a yellow lab in Leader Dog harness next to her. Behind them is greenery

Voice of the Leader Dog Community: Karen

Learning to train with my guide dog was intense, fun and satisfying. Having her in my life… a blessing. However, being out in public with an AUTHENTIC service dog can be emotionally hurtful and draining at times. So, when I ...
Continue Reading This Article

Voice of the Leader Dog Community: Michele Clift

Today’s voice belongs to Michele Clift, a licensed veterinary technician at Leader Dogs for the Blind for over 20 years. She is concerned about the state of veterinary technicians in Michigan. Across the state of Michigan, we have lost multiple ...
Continue Reading This Article