The Power of One Puppy: Carolyn’s Story

Published June 24, 2026

This article comes from the May 2026 issue of Update Magazine. For audio recording and full magazine, click the links below the article.

What began as a simple decision to raise one puppy quickly grew into a lifelong commitment to support something truly transformative. That’s exactly what happened when Carolyn Crowe first became involved with Leader Dogs for the Blind.

A woman with short brown hair sits in a chair and smiles at her yellow Labrador retriever. The dog is wearing a blue Future Leader Dog vest.

Carolyn with FLD Devin

Carolyn thought she would raise one puppy and move on—but after raising one she said, “I was hooked. I soon learned what a wonderful organization Leader Dog was and how they help people live independent lives.”

Currently raising her 37th puppy, Carolyn finds it incredibly rewarding to watch each puppy grow from a small, dependent bundle of energy into a confident, capable guide dog. However, Carolyn has come to understand that the heart of a puppy raiser’s journey isn’t just about the dogs—it’s about the people whose lives are transformed by them.

Carolyn brings a deeply personal perspective to her volunteerism. After experiencing vision loss in one eye following a brain aneurysm, her connection to the Leader Dog mission became even more profound. “Losing my own vision has given me a deeper understanding of some of the emotions the clients might experience. I am grateful for my remaining vision so that I can continue to raise more puppies for Leader Dog.” Not only that—her connection to the community grew stronger when Carolyn was homebound for several months. With no family around, friends she met through Leader Dog helped her care for her dogs and continue to progress with everyday tasks.

A group of women stand and smile in front of a Leader Dog branded step and repeat backdrop. Each woman has a dog in a Future Leader Dog vest with them. In front of the women is a yellow football goalpost.

Carolyn with fellow puppy raisers at Puppy Bowl 2026

Volunteers like Carolyn give their time, energy, and love to Future Leader Dogs, and it’s this shared experience that creates a deep and lasting bond within the puppy raising community. It is a network built on compassion, strengthened by the support of Leader Dog team members who share the same commitment to empowering individuals who are blind or have low vision through safe, independent travel.

For Carolyn, being part of the Leader Dog community is more than volunteering, it is an opportunity to make a lasting impact on someone’s life.

Learn more about puppy raising or other opportunities at LeaderDog.Org/Volunteer