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Three lab puppies, one black, one chocolate and one yellow, stand facing forward. All are wearing blue Future Leader Dog bandannas.We offer orientation sessions for people interested in raising a puppy who would like to find out more about this volunteer opportunity. The sessions are held virtually on the first Wednesday of every month from 5 to 7 p.m. If you are interested in exploring the world of becoming a puppy raiser, join us for an upcoming session! These informational sessions are a great way to get all your questions answered by the team who supports this volunteer role.

Sign up for the orientation:

Name(Required)
Info sessions are typically the 1st Wednesday of every month. Dates through the end of 2024 are listed.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Black lab in blue Leader Dog Mom bandana lies in grass with plants behind

We offer orientation sessions for people interested in hosting a breeding dog who would like to find out more about this volunteer opportunity. The sessions are held virtually on the third Wednesday of every month from 6 to 7 p.m. If you are interested in exploring the world of becoming a breeding host, join us for an upcoming session! These informational sessions are a great way to get all your questions answered by the team who supports this volunteer role.

Sign up for the orientation:

Name(Required)
Info sessions are typically the 3rd Wednesday of every month. Session dates through the end of 2024 are listed.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Yellow lab wearing blue Leader Dog Dad bandanna

Meet Hero, a 3-year-old Labrador retriever who was raised in the prison system as part of our Prison Puppies initiative. When he came back to Leader Dog to go into formal training, our breeding team determined he would become a breeding dog instead, making him Leader Dog Dad Hero.

In March of 2021, he met his breeding hosts, Carrie and Geoff. They immediately fell in love and took Hero home. He fit right in, and Carrie and Geoff were so happy to be hosting a dog that would produce Future Leader Dogs to change people’s lives.

Yellow lab lying its head on smiling man's lap
Geoff and Hero

After a few litters, Hero’s breeding career came to an end early in July of 2022. When that happens, our breeding dogs become the host family’s pet. However, after much thought, Carrie and Geoff believed Hero was destined for more. “We both have people in our lives who may be affected with vision loss down the line,” said Carrie. Knowing how exceptional Hero was, they wanted to give him a chance to change someone’s life. “We believe in him, and we believe in the program.” Hero was evaluated and it was determined that he was fit to come back to Leader Dog for formal guide dog training. A bittersweet moment for Carrie and Geoff as Hero was off to Leader Dog again.

Yellow lab sitting next to smiling woman kneeling on ground with grass behind
Hero with his instructor, Emily

For formal training, Hero was paired with Guide Dog Mobility Instructor Emily Rowland. She worked with him for four months. “I cannot express how grateful I am to Carrie and Geoff for their selfless decision to offer Hero back into the training program. I tear up every time I think of when Carrie told me that she knew someone else needed Hero.  Hero’s journey is truly unique and touching with so many people to thank for making it possible: his inmate raisers, Carrie and Geoff and all the people who cared for him along the way,” said Emily. Even though Hero was in formal training, on his off weekends, he was able to spend time with Carrie and Geoff, who were grateful to get extra time with him.

During training he was sweet, gentle and playful and effortlessly won over everyone he met. Hero’s nature to be calm, patient and eager to please were all great qualities that led him to become a Leader Dog for a client in Spain. “We look for dogs that are confident in new situations, very adaptable and able to generalize their skills quickly. We know the dogs going out of the country will be working in environments that are very different than the ones we train in the metro Detroit area,” said Emily.

Three yellow labs in harness standing next to three women in winter clothes in a lobby area
Hero and two of his offspring in training together

It was a hard day for Carrie and Geoff when they found out Hero was paired with a client from Spain. They had no doubt that he would make it through training and give someone else the independence they’d been waiting for. What made it easier was meeting the person whose life Hero was changing. “Just to hear how long [Hero’s client] has waited and what she’s been through, it kind of erased any doubts that we had,” said Carrie.

The definition of a hero is someone who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements or noble qualities. There were many acts of heroism along Leader Dog Hero’s journey. As his official Leader Dog journey is just beginning with his client, his legacy lives on as five of his offspring are in advanced training to become Leader Dogs.

I started volunteering with Leader Dogs for the Blind in fall of 2022. As an Oakland County native, I surprisingly didn’t know about Leader Dog growing up. My first exposure was a few years ago when I was living in Chicago and my roommate (also from Oakland County) got a career changed dog from Leader Dogs for the Blind. Her name is Parker—she’s a yellow lab mix and she was (and still is!) one of the sweetest girls ever!

Olivia smiles in a selfie with a yellow lab lying its head on her chest
Parker and me

In the coming years, I learned about other guide dog programs on documentaries like “Pick of the Litter” and “Dogs.” These shows provided a perspective I had never seen before when it comes to the guide dog community. I was so moved by the way that a guide dog could enrich someone’s life and provide them with so much freedom and independence. It was beautiful to hear the perspectives of the clients, and I was really touched by the support that these guide dog programs provided.

Olivia crouching on dirt path with trees in the background. She is kissing an Australian cattle dog sitting next to her.Just before the pandemic, my now husband and I got our first dog, Milo, an Australian cattle dog mix. Milo is a working breed, and he impresses me every day with his energy, his willingness to learn, and his big brain. It wasn’t until we got Milo that I truly realized the profound impact that being a dog owner can have on someone. Our dog’s ability to pick up on our emotions and to bring so much joy into our lives never ceases to amaze me! We adopted another dog, Daisy (beagle mix!), in 2022 and our lives were changed for the better once again.

I moved back to Ferndale from Chicago in the fall of 2021 and was (and still am) working from home full-time. While the flexibility is wonderful, I found that I was looking for some additional fulfillment outside of the workspace. In my search, I came across Leader Dogs for the Blind, and I immediately knew that I wanted to be a part of Leader Dog’s amazing mission.

Olivia's torso and legs are visible, covered in yellow dog hair, and a yellow lab is wagging its tail near her legs. She is seated and the camera is looking down.I now volunteer with the breeding dogs, and I absolutely love it. I feel so honored to play even a small role in the journey to get clients the guide dogs that they need. I love all the dogs—the playful ones, the chill ones, the excited ones, the slobbery ones, and the adorable ones (okay, they’re all adorable). I usually only spend time with the older dogs, but recently got to help feed the Future Leader Dog puppies on my shift—what a highlight!

I may sometimes leave covered head to toe in fur and my dogs may sniff me for 30 minutes every time I come home from a shift, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Overall, I’m very thankful to be a part of Leader Dogs for the Blind and look forward to continuing to support their amazing mission!

Smiling woman in blue t-shirt with Bark & Brew logo and jeans standing next to black lab with blue sky in background

National Volunteer Week was established by Presidential Proclamation in 1974 to bring focus to the millions of individuals who freely give their time and talents to better their community. Later, the week of appreciation was expanded to include the entire month of April. And now, in April each year the whole world recognizes Global Volunteer Month.

Here at Leader Dogs for the Blind, it’s an important time of year for us as we stop to take a moment to formally express our appreciation to all the volunteers who make our organization succeed. Did you know Leader Dog has around 800 volunteers? That’s over five times the number of staff!

Our dedicated volunteers allow us to maximize the impact of our resources and focus on the core parts of the Leader Dog mission. We depend on them for all facets of the work we do. We frequently say, “We couldn’t do it without you” to our volunteers, and we mean that quite literally! The simple acts of kindness and generosity that volunteers give keep us going.

A man in a tan sweatshirt and jeans sits in a yellow plastic chair holding a young yellow lab puppy in his lap. The puppy is licking its nose as the man looks down at it.Leader Dog volunteers actively, joyfully and with purpose participate in every aspect of our operations. At times, some of the work is messy, smelly or repetitive, but volunteers never shy away. They roll up their sleeves and get the job done. When asked to take on a new role or help solve a new challenge, they always step up. Leader Dogs for the Blind volunteers are a special “breed” indeed.

So, during this special month we say a heartfelt THANK YOU to all the Leader Dogs for the Blind volunteers. Thank you for sharing your time and special talents with us. Thank you for supporting our mission. Know that we appreciate everything that you do and are proud to have you on our team.

When you think about what volunteering at Leader Dogs for the Blind, what comes to mind? Caring for dogs and puppies, of course! But there is so much more! Volunteers, both on and off campus, participate in every aspect of Leader Dog operations. And the impact they make is felt around the world!

Off-campus

A smiling woman in black tank top and gray capris sits on the edge of a fountain next to a golden retriever in blue Leader Dog vest.There are two volunteer off-campus assignments: puppy raisers and breeding stock hosts. You could say that it all begins with the breeding stock hosts. Currently, there are more than 70 breeding stock hosts. These volunteers care for mom and dad dogs 24/7 for their breeding lifetime. And when the mom has puppies, the mom hosts care for her and her puppies (which can be as many as 10!) until they are about 7 weeks old. That’s a lot of work!

Enter the puppy raisers! Over 350 puppy raisers take an adorable Future Leader Dog puppy into their home and raise it for 12-15 months, teaching it good house manners and acclimating it to all kinds of situations.

On-Campus

Currently, there are more than 70 volunteer on-campus assignments and 350+ volunteers. These can be divided broadly into three main service areas: canine center, client services and training, and administration.

Canine Center

Bill sits in a chair in a suite in the canine center. He is smiling at the camera with one hand on the yellow lab lying next to him on a Kuranda bedTwo of the many, many important roles volunteers fill at the canine center include on-campus puppy raisers (OCPR) and canine support assistants (CSA). OCPRs help care for puppies when they arrive from the breeding host and before they go to off-campus puppy raisers. Volunteers assist busy paid team members with all kinds of things like feeding, cleaning up and playing with the puppies. Puppy numbers vary from week to week but there can be dozens of puppies on campus at one time. CSAs also provide a vital role in helping staff maintain calm in the dog villages and providing individualized attention to dogs who are here for training.

Client Services and Training

A woman standing inside an office smiling for the picture holding a bag of treats in her hand. Sitting on the floor in front of her and looking intently at the treat bag are a Shepherd mix, plus one yellow and two black Labrador retrievers.In client services, volunteers make the client experience a little easier. For example, residence orientation guides greet new arrivals and give them a personal tour of the Polk Residence Center, helping them get settled in their new temporary home. Administrative assistants ensure that all the client paperwork for class is completed in time. This includes client contracts, health certificates for dogs, client ID cards, graduation paperwork, emergency medical envelopes and filing. Having volunteers to assist with the administrative duties allows our team members more time for client support through phone and email. Client satisfaction survey volunteers administer exit surveys to all our clients at the end of their training. The information gained from these surveys are so important as we continue to improve our programs and services for clients. Some volunteers help at our off-campus location in downtown Rochester. Client guides assist clients at our downtown Rochester training center with everything from getting oriented with the facility to interpreting for Spanish-speaking clients.

Administration

A man in zip-up fleece jacket and jeans kneels on a gray carpet next to a yellow lab lying next to him.For other volunteers, the focus is on assisting team members in marketing, philanthropy, facilities, volunteer engagement and special events. For example, docents conduct campus tours for the public and the many Lions clubs who visit each year. They provide valuable insight to visitors on the importance of the LDB mission in hopes that these visitors will spread the word. Special event volunteers also interact with the public and provide crucial assistance during our special events. Client drivers specialize in helping clients get to and from the campus from arrival points such as the airport, bus and train stations.

Without all our enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers, Leader Dog would not be able to do what we are here to do – which is to empower people who are blind or visually impaired with the skills needed for safe independent daily travel.

If you’d like to find out more about volunteering, please visit our website at www.leaderdog.org/volunteer.

A young yellow lab/golden retriever cross sits on a porch in a too-big blue Leader Dog vest. Behind the puppy is a bench with a plush dog in a blue Future Leader Dog bench. To the right is a pink sign with a flower design. It reads: watch me grow.

By Volunteer Puppy Raiser Karen Beatty

My first-born grandson, Dawson, was born at 24 weeks 3 days and weighed in at 1lb 11oz. Due to being premature, he developed Retinopathy of Prematurity stage IV (ROP). ROP occurs when blood vessels stop growing for a time, then begin growing abnormally and randomly. The new vessels are fragile and can leak, leaving the retina scarred and possible detachment. In Dawson’s case, the retinas detached, tearing away from the back wall of the eye and putting him at a high risk of becoming blind. He now has no vision in his right eye and low vision with nystagmus (an involuntary eye moment) in his left. His visual acuity is 20/800.

An older yellow lab/golden retriever puppy sits next to a young boy holding a white cane. They are in a living room.
Mira D and her namesake, Dawson

While reading all I could on vision impairments and blindness, I came across the Leader Dogs for the Blind website. A guide dog, I thought, would be something Dawson might really benefit from. I noticed the volunteer tab and wondered in what capacity we could volunteer (we live two hours away from Rochester Hills). Puppy raising seemed to be the perfect fit. We got a puppy of our own to see if we had the dedication it took to raise a Future Leader Dog. When our dog Lacy was 1.5 years old, we decided to apply. We were approved and picked up our first puppy, Mira D, (Everest X Gatsby), a yellow Labrador/golden retriever cross on January 27, 2020.

Her name has a special meaning. Mira, short for miracle, and D for Dawson. We later learned about the Mira Foundation, an organization that provides guide dogs for clients between the ages of 11 and 17, and that “mira” in Spanish means sight. We didn’t know that when choosing her name, but we refer to these type of things as “God winks.”

Yellow lab/golden retriever in a Leader Dog harness sits next to a smiling woman with graying hair and glasses.
Mira D with her forever person

We raised Mira D for about 15 months, dropping her off at Leader Dog on April 29, 2021. She’s now working with her client in Wisconsin. As for Dawson, he’s now 12, has a personality larger than life, is quick witted and very musically talented.

Our journey with Leader Dog continued when we picked up our second Future Leader Dog Resi B (Casey X Briggs) a yellow Labrador/golden retriever cross on September 9, 2021. Her name also has a special meaning.

A young yellow lab/golden retriever puppy sits on a kitchen floor next to a young smiling boy with his arm around the puppy.
Resi B with her namesake, Benjamin

Resi is for resilience and B for Benjamin, our second born grandson. Physical resilience refers to the body’s ability to adapt to challenges, maintain stamina and strength and recover quickly and efficiently.

Benjamin was born with malrotation of his intestines with volvulus, which means the intestine did not form properly and failed to make the normal turns in the abdomen. Volvulus is when the intestines twist, cutting off the blood supply. At 3 days old, Benjamin went in for emergency surgery where the doctors untwisted and re-routed his intestines. He was given a 20% chance of survival. It was a huge surgery for such a tiny boy, but he did great. Benjamin is now a very loving, athletic, amazing 7-year-old. Resi is a very sweet, loving and obedient puppy with maybe just a little more pep in her step. Her projected return date is August 21, 2022.

If all goes as planned, we will pick up puppy number three when returning Resi B to Leader Dog. The house felt so empty after returning Mira D and our personal dog, Lacy, felt her absence.

Karen and her husband with a young puppy in Karen's arms. They are smiling and standing in front of a field of sunflowers.We have our sixth grandchild on the way, so we know we must raise at least four more puppies after Resi B, hopefully more! All our children and grandchildren love the puppies and the entire family pitches in to help.

I feel so blessed to have met so many wonderful people in the Leader Dog community, some in person and some through email and social media, but all are supportive and full of great advice. I have our puppy counselor on speed dial! I love how everyone is cheering each other on every step of the way. We have utilized all the materials and resources available. Puppy raising for Leader Dog has taught me how to be a responsible pet owner and all about positive reinforcement. Our only regret is we didn’t know about it sooner.

If raising a puppy might be the right volunteer opportunity for you or someone you know, you can find out more on our website. Browse the FAQs, sign up for a free, virtual orientation session and learn more about the impact you could make.

. On the left is a black Labrador retriever lying down, looking forward and wearing a red bow on its collar with a sign that says "You're My Person" with hearts on it in front of the dog.

Hi! My name is Amy Schupska. My husband of 18 years, Andy, and I have raised 14 Leader Dog puppies. We live in Michigan near Lansing. We are currently raising Monroe, an 8-month-old male lab and golden retriever mix. I own a pet care business in my town and am also an artist.

I’ve been a puppy counselor for six years. A puppy counselor is a puppy raiser who volunteers to head up a group of puppy raisers. Puppy counselors support raisers by answering questions, and planning outings and training opportunities. I started off as the counselor for the Michigan and Ohio Independent Puppy Raiser Group for about 5 years. Because the group doesn’t live close to each other, we primarily communicated through emails and I even visited a few of them. Two years ago, I achieved my goal of becoming a local puppy counselor when I was asked to head the Michigan State University/East Lansing Group. While I enjoyed being the puppy counselor of the independent group, I really enjoy being more hands on and in person with the MSU group.

A line of people each with their own dog standing in front of some tall yellow flowers with trees in the background.I enjoy coming up with a variety of locations and experiences for the raisers and their puppies. Some of the outings include places such as the movies, baseball games, a horse farm, cider mill, going out to dinner, or even just meeting at the mall. The different locations provide a large variety of experiences for the puppies such as different surfaces for them to walk on, new things to see and smell, and sometimes even different noises. It’s crucial that Leader Dog candidates are acclimated to these types of experiences.

One of the areas of concern for raisers is when a dog is career changed. This means that the dog is not suitable to be a guide either because of a health concern or a behavioral reason. Sometimes the dogs will go into “alternative careers” such as courtroom therapy dogs for children, drug detection, an ambassador for Leader Dog, service dog, etc. Since only 11% of career changed dogs will go into alternative careers, a lot will go home to their raisers or be adopted out by the public.

A black Labrador retriever lying on the ground wearing a red bandana with a paw print that has the American flag stars and stripes inside of it.Raisers often will feel like they failed their puppy if he/she is career changed for medical or behavioral reasons. I try to remind them how wonderful it is that Leader Dog listens to each dog to see if they are capable AND enjoy the work. I’m glad that they don’t try to force the dogs into jobs they don’t enjoy.

Even when a dog is career changed, I believe the year was still productive. The raiser and puppy have still been in the public eye teaching people about visual impairments and guide dogs. A lot of people don’t know how to behave around a service dog, so it’s helpful when we can talk to them about why service dogs shouldn’t be pet or distracted. Sometimes incorporating an adult or child into feeling like they are helping to train the puppy by being a distraction, etc., can make them feel like the interaction is meaningful.

I enjoy volunteering for pet therapy with my career changed golden retriever, Sally. We have been doing pet therapy for about 8 years and have completed over 275 visits. Sally and I primarily will visit the crisis unit in the Community Mental Health Center and exam relief for students at Michigan State University. Sally is phenomenal at reading a room of people and knowing who needs some extra love and attention. She will put her paw on the person or lean into them until she feels they are doing better. Sally knows me better than myself some days!

Six people, including Amy, posing for the picture with five dogs sitting near one of the people.Through Leader Dog, I’ve encountered many fantastic dogs and people. I’ve even traveled to the other side of the world to Taiwan to visit one of the dogs we raised! I’ve talked to people in the public that I probably wouldn’t have otherwise. My puppy is a bridge for conversation which I believe will help them know how to interact with someone that is visually impaired with a guide dog someday. Everyone wants to feel like they belong and are included. That includes you, me, the public, and Leader Dog clients.

Close up photo of someone hand stamping part of a leather harness with numbers, using a metal tool

By Steve Williams

Steve Williams works in the tack shop with a hammer and other tools to assemble a leather harness
Steve works in the tack shop on Leader Dog’s campus.

After working as an orthotist (a person who makes custom orthopedic devices) for 39 years, my wife and I closed our family business in 2015. Shortly after retiring I started volunteering in the tack room. I was very excited to be part of Leader Dogs for the Blind (LDB) since I grew up nearby and had a family connection.

My daughter, Ana Williams, worked for several years as a guide dog mobility instructor for English and Spanish-speaking clients. While she worked at LDB, my wife and I had an opportunity to take a tour of the facility. I saw my retirement future as soon as we stepped into the tack shop. This is where the tack shop volunteers assist with assembling and repairing leather harnesses and tie-downs for the dogs. Some of the harnesses are also customized to accommodate a dog or handler’s physical stature. When I trained many years ago to become an orthotist, most of the devices were made from leather and metal. Although technology has changed over the years to incorporate more sophisticated materials, I always loved using my old school leather work skills.

Volunteer Brent works on assembling a harness in the tack shop
Volunteer Brent works on leather in the tack shop.

The steps to make a harness have evolved since the tack shop opened many years ago and we routinely try to improve on little details to perfect the finished product. I really like to study the old harnesses that clients return to inspect for wear issues that might affect the durability or comfort of the harnesses. Feedback from the vet clinic and instructors also helps us improve the design. A few years ago, a vet technician mentioned that the copper rivets on the side of the harness were rubbing against a dog’s torso. We knew that if the rivets were irritating one dog, there was potential that several dogs were encountering the same issue. We started rounding the top of the rivets so there wouldn’t be any edges to aggravate the dog’s skin. We rely on this sort of feedback and teamwork to make the equipment comfortable since the dogs can’t tell us how they are feeling.

I especially love using our vintage sewing machine that was donated by the Hazel Park horse racetrack’s tack shop. Like the tack room volunteer crew, it is a little finicky and temperamental but when it’s time to go to work it does a marvelous job. The volunteer crew consists of myself, Brent Fecteau, Rob Walker and John Bastion. We enjoy a unique camaraderie and I couldn’t have hoped to share my retirement time with a nicer group of people. We gab like a bunch of old hens while we produce about 300 harnesses each year. I feel so lucky to be able to spend my retirement doing what I love. My wife, Mary, feels similarly blessed and volunteers as a client activity assistant with the Spanish-speaking clients and as a canine center receptionist. I sincerely hope that all retirees are as fortunate as we are to find a place like LDB to use their talents.

Black lab puppy wearing blue Future Leader Dog bandana looks up toward the camera

By Puppy Raiser Becky Wynn

I am a retired speech/language pathologist and raised my first two Future Leader Dog puppies while I was still working in the public schools in Southgate, MI. I traveled between several schools and worked with children from preschool through middle school. It was an incredible journey for all of us. My main building was an elementary school whose principal was a former Lions club member. He, as well as the school board and the special services director, were very receptive to raising a puppy in school. He said he had never seen quieter hallways than when the puppy was walking with me to the different classrooms.

I think the first puppy taught us more than we taught him. His picture hung up on the entry wall along with all the staff pictures and the students took great pride in their contribution to his training. The students named both puppies. When it was time for Mr. Webster to go to “college” (come back to Leader Dog for formal guide training), the elementary school had an awards ceremony for him. Parents came and Mr. Webster was presented with a certificate. Then we went from room to room and took off his jacket so that each student could give him a hug good-bye.

Logistically, I had a crate in each of the therapy rooms that I worked in and over time the puppy learned to lay quietly under the table while I worked with small groups of students. One 2nd grade teacher had her students describe one thing that they learned from having a Future Leader Dog puppy in school. Here are a few of my favorites:

“I learned that you can do more than collect bottle tops and soup can labels to help other people.”

“I learned that a Leader Dog can be working when he is sound asleep.”

“I learned that if you act up in the hallway the puppy acts up too, and no one wants the puppy to get in trouble.”

“I learned that Leader Dogs help blond [sic] people who can’t see.”

“I learned that puppy slobber makes your hair lay down.”

What I learned was how devoted and responsible children can be when they are part of an important project like raising a Leader Dog. They took such pride in how their behavior affected Mr. Webster’s training. They educated all visitors and their parents about proper manners around the puppy. My speech students got to help him with his “cues” (commands) and learned how important precise pronunciation had to be in order for the puppy to understand what they were asking. They learned patience by giving only one cue word and then waiting for the puppy to respond. I had autistic students who preferred to talk only to the puppy. It was an incredible education for all of us and Mr. Webster had a profound and lifelong impact.

A black lab lies on a blanket in a whelping box with several newborn black lab puppies nursing

By Gary Lewandowski

On April 24, 2019, Leader Dog Mom “Trinket” officially became a “Retired Leader Dog Mom!”

She gave the Leader Dog organization four great litters, all so very different but all just fantastic little individual Future Leader Dogs! Some have already gone on to become guide dogs while others have settled into a great life with loving families as career changed dogs, while others are with their puppy raisers or undergoing training now at Leader Dog!

A very young black lab puppy sits in a sink. It is all wet and looking at the cameraThe experience has taught my wife Lori and I patience, and more especially a real appreciation for the miracle of birth and how amazing the natural instincts of these remarkable dogs are.

Being a host family is a lot of work, and yes, there were a couple heartbreaks along the way, which comes with doing this, but weighed against the rewards and the satisfaction of knowing that the efforts can and will make a strong and positive change in someone’s life make the experience invaluable.

The good far outweighed the bad for sure!

So now OUR Trinket will enjoy a great life in our home that will be her forever home, and she will be rewarded with many years of love and spoiling!

Two young black lab puppies sleep next to each other, one on its belly and one on its backWill we host another Leader Dog Mom? Well, if this fantastic experience working with an organization that is so very meaningful in changing the lives or people with blindness is any indication of how we feel and how proud we are to be a part of it, I guess that question has already been answered!

And for those who may be considering becoming a host home for a LD Mom or Dad… you will never regret that decision and the experience! It is indeed life changing and in a very good way!

Photos courtesy of Gary Lewandowski

Sarah sits smiling at the camera in front of a beige wall. She is sitting next to a yellow lab

I never knew how much Leader Dogs for the Blind would mean to me or how invested I would become when I began volunteering in August 2007. I started by coming in one day a week but I quickly realized how much I loved being here. I kept adding days to my schedule and I currently volunteer four days a week. I split my time between canine center receptionist and canine support assistant. I look forward to coming in each and every day because it puts a smile on my face. It really makes me feel good to help other people and be a service to the community.

The canine center receptionist role is extremely rewarding. I have always loved being around dogs and I enjoy administrative work so this was the perfect fit for me. I answer incoming calls and talk to some amazing people. I enjoy greeting all the visitors, puppy raisers, volunteers and employees when they come into the canine center. I have gotten to know a lot of people and I value all the friendships I have made over the years. My favorite part is interacting with others and how I feel when I have helped someone either in person or over the phone.

There are so many things I enjoy about this volunteer role, but one of my absolute favorite things is witnessing career changed dogs go to their new home. It is especially fun to see puppy raisers come in to pick up their dog after being career changed. The puppy raisers simply amaze me with how much work they put into raising their puppies. The dogs are so excited to be reunited with their raisers!

I am really impressed with the organization and how much time and training is required to prepare a dog to become a Leader Dog for a client. As a canine support assistant, I get to spend one-on-one time with the dogs in training. I love being able to sit with the dogs, give them love and interact with them. I feel that the dogs work hard and it brightens their day and makes them feel special to receive individual attention. It is also rewarding to be a part of these dogs’ lives knowing that they could potentially be guiding a person who is visually impaired or blind in the future.

Volunteering at LDB these past 12 years has been such an amazing experience. I am so grateful to be part of such a wonderful organization that provides their services free of charge. I love spending a large part of my week at LDB and knowing it is helping clients gain independence.