Leader Dogs for the Blind
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Leader Dogs for the Blind is a guide dog training school located in Rochester, Michigan. It was founded in 1939 by Lions Club members, Charles Nutting, Don Schuur and S.A. Dodge [1], as the second guide dog school founded in the U.S.
Much like "seeing-eye dogs" from The Seeing Eye, Leader Dogs' trained canines are called "leader dogs."
Leader Dog is a non profit organization- all expenses from room and board, to airfare, to the dog itself, are offered free of charge. Applicants, after being accepted into the program, travel to Leader Dogs headquarters and must spend 19-26 days of training with their new dog, after which the dog becomes theirs officially.
Leader Dog employs a breeding program to supply dogs, consisting mostly of pure bred retrievers and German Shepherds. Dogs donated from the general public and animal shelters, who are of fitting physical and mental character, are also sometimes accepted. Additionally, through a partnership with service and hearing dog organization Paws With A Cause, dogs unsuited for the work of their respective programs may be "career changed" to the partner's.
