Guide Dog Nonprofit 'Urgently Needs' Volunteer Puppy Raisers for 70 Adorable Pups

Mar. 15, 2025

Puppies at Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester Hills, Mich.Photo:Leader Dogs for the Blind

Leader Dogs for the Blind

Over 70 Michigan puppies are looking for some love and care to help them with their guide dog training.On Nov. 11,Leader Dogs for the Blind, a guide dog nonprofit organization in Rochester Hills, Mich., shared that it “urgently needs” volunteers known as puppy raisers. Puppy raisers take in puppies born at Leaders Dogs for the Blind and spend roughly a year raising them in a home setting, where the dogs can learn basic obedience, encounter various new experiences, and work on their social skills.Leaders Dogs for the Blind currently has over 70 puppies ready to move in with puppy raisers and start the next step of their guide dog training journey.“Whether you’ve been a ‘dog person’ for years or have never had a dog, you can be a puppy raiser,” Leader Dogs for the Blind Leader Dog manager Vijay Yoshi shared in a statement.A puppy at Leader Dogs for the Blind, a guide dog nonprofit organization.Leader Dogs for the Blind"You’ll learn a lot of great skills, meet like-minded people in your community, have a daily walking partner, and, most importantly, help someone who is blind experience safety and confidence when traveling independently," Yoshi continued.Leader Dogs for the Blind noted in its Nov. 11 announcement that the volunteers — a role fit for many, including retirees, families, couples, working professionals, and those living alone — have “flexible options” for raising a puppy.Volunteers can choose to foster a puppy for 12-14 months or split the commitment of raising the pup with another person or household.Leader Dogs for the BlindPuppy raisers “focus on teaching basic obedience, good house manners, and socialization skills,” according to Leaders Dogs for the Blind. To help prepare the guide dogs in training for greatness, volunteers will have access to “expert guidance from a dedicated puppy counselor,” “detailed online training modules,” and “group meetings” with other puppy raisers.Leaders for the Blind provides veterinary care for the puppy and the “initial supplies” the little dog will need. Once a Leader Dogs for the Blind puppy has spent a year growing up in a home, it returns to the nonprofit’s campus and begins its expert guide dog training. Dogs that take to the training and complete the program without issue go on to match and graduate with a person with visual impairments.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Leader Dogs for the Blind provides guide dogs and canes free of charge to people who are blind or visually impaired, according to the nonprofit’swebsite. Since the organization was founded in 1939, over 16,000 guide dog teams have graduated. Over 1,000 guide dog teams from Leader Dogs for the Blind are active across North America today.Volunteers who want to help raise the puppies can either visit LeaderDog.Org/Volunteer or call 888-777-5332, per the organization.

Over 70 Michigan puppies are looking for some love and care to help them with their guide dog training.

On Nov. 11,Leader Dogs for the Blind, a guide dog nonprofit organization in Rochester Hills, Mich., shared that it “urgently needs” volunteers known as puppy raisers. Puppy raisers take in puppies born at Leaders Dogs for the Blind and spend roughly a year raising them in a home setting, where the dogs can learn basic obedience, encounter various new experiences, and work on their social skills.

Leaders Dogs for the Blind currently has over 70 puppies ready to move in with puppy raisers and start the next step of their guide dog training journey.

“Whether you’ve been a ‘dog person’ for years or have never had a dog, you can be a puppy raiser,” Leader Dogs for the Blind Leader Dog manager Vijay Yoshi shared in a statement.

A puppy at Leader Dogs for the Blind, a guide dog nonprofit organization.Leader Dogs for the Blind

“You’ll learn a lot of great skills, meet like-minded people in your community, have a daily walking partner, and, most importantly, help someone who is blind experience safety and confidence when traveling independently,” Yoshi continued.

Leader Dogs for the Blind noted in its Nov. 11 announcement that the volunteers — a role fit for many, including retirees, families, couples, working professionals, and those living alone — have “flexible options” for raising a puppy.

Volunteers can choose to foster a puppy for 12-14 months or split the commitment of raising the pup with another person or household.

Puppy raisers “focus on teaching basic obedience, good house manners, and socialization skills,” according to Leaders Dogs for the Blind. To help prepare the guide dogs in training for greatness, volunteers will have access to “expert guidance from a dedicated puppy counselor,” “detailed online training modules,” and “group meetings” with other puppy raisers.

Leaders for the Blind provides veterinary care for the puppy and the “initial supplies” the little dog will need. Once a Leader Dogs for the Blind puppy has spent a year growing up in a home, it returns to the nonprofit’s campus and begins its expert guide dog training. Dogs that take to the training and complete the program without issue go on to match and graduate with a person with visual impairments.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Leader Dogs for the Blind provides guide dogs and canes free of charge to people who are blind or visually impaired, according to the nonprofit’swebsite. Since the organization was founded in 1939, over 16,000 guide dog teams have graduated. Over 1,000 guide dog teams from Leader Dogs for the Blind are active across North America today.

Volunteers who want to help raise the puppies can either visit LeaderDog.Org/Volunteer or call 888-777-5332, per the organization.

source: people.com