© Jeffrey D. Etheridge There is no shortage of preparation needed for heading off to college, but being unable to visually orient yourself to a large, busy campus adds another layer of complexity. “We spent three and a half days ...

By Maggie Winn, COMS As a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS), I know the demands of our field, the constant need for recruitment, and the caseloads and territories that can be simply unmanageable. At Leader Dogs for the Blind ...

By Melissa Spooner, LVT, coordinator of Prison Puppies Prison Puppies allows inmates to raise guide dog candidates for Leader Dogs for the Blind. Prison Puppies has proven to be a win, win, win initiative with inmates developing responsibility and positive ...

I was born in Minnesota and lived in California and Wisconsin before making my way to Michigan after college. Unfortunately, my dog passed away after I retired from a career in government contracting. I thought about getting another dog, but ...

We were first introduced to Leader Dogs for the Blind (LDB) during the summer of 2005 while walking our Labrador retriever, Alta. Someone hosting a LDB breeding stock dog stopped us and asked if our Alta was a career changed ...

Mary St. Clair is a highly involved volunteer at Leader Dogs. She is client driver, a dog driver, a puppy raiser, and so much more! She is currently raising her sixth Future Leader Dog, Westley, a Labrador and golden retriever ...

Do you love dogs? Are you passionate about making a difference in the life of someone who is blind? Consider becoming a volunteer puppy raiser. Opening your home to a puppy is a commitment, but in exchange you’ll receive moments ...

Zeke was so much more than a guide dog to me. He was my best friend. Please bear with me as I share my emotional tribute to Zeke. Zeke shone from the inside out. He was always full of joy, ...

By Audrey Demmitt | Leader Dog Client I was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) in my twenties. RP is an eye disease that causes the retina to slowly deteriorate. The light sensing cells called rods and cones begin to die ...

I first considered raising a puppy for Leader Dogs for the Blind when our school-age son declared, “I am going to have ten dogs when I grow up.” I decided then that our children needed to learn to be responsible ...