Guide Dog Foundation For The Blind

So I knew I wanted to highlight an animal-related charity this week, and I have also had a burgeoning interest in learning about the blind and hearing impaired (I'm not entirely sure why- I must've seen it on TV somewhere and I am highly impressionable...though at least this time, it is for a good cause). Therefore, today's charity is the Guide Dog Foundation For The Blind. What I hadn't realized until researching was that the blind person would need training WITH the guide dog. I have seen people training the seeing eye dogs, but of course, the blind person would have to learn how to care for as well as work with their new helper. GUIDE DOGS not only provides the seeing eye dog, but also pays for a 25 day inpatient training session where you learn basic leash handling techniques, walking and such. And it is all FREE.

However, GUIDE DOGS has noted the increasing need for dogs that can help with a variety of disabilities in addition to blindness and have specially trained dogs to help those in nursing homes, "service" dogs that are trained to retrieve objects that may be out of reach, and (super awwww factor here) "therapy" dogs that travel to hospitals, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers for therapeutic help. They also work with the VetDogs organization to provides dogs to wounded soldiers from the U.S. Armed Forces, so the good you would be doing is really indescribable.

As for ways that we can help out, GUIDE DOGS has "Puppy Walker" programs in 10 states where you can take home a 7-week old puppy and raise it for about a year, when it is returned to the foundation to complete its training. So if you love animals and want to see them truly better someone's life both physically and emotionally, it is a wonderful opportunity. The foundation pays for all vet visits and vaccinations, as well as a crate, leashes, ID tags, collar, coat, brush and toys. Other ways of helping include donations (and if you or a group can donate $6000, you can sponsor a puppy and get to name it and everything!), stock transfers, and, if you work for one of the over 9000 companies participating, even match the amount you donate. Considering that it costs $55,000 to breed, train and care for a guide dog throughout it's career (usually 8-10 years), any amount truly can help

There are almost many different events throughout the year and country that raise funds. Or you can hit up the Second Sight Shop (as you can tell, I love charities with shops!), where approximately 60% of your purchase will go to the foundation. You can also volunteer to help in the training classes, office, and at the kennel. Again, the foundation is funded ENTIRELY through donations and receives no government funding (which is quite ridiculous when you think about the amount of help they are providing, but that is a tale for another day), so it really is up to you to make a courageous disabled person's life better