Leader Dogs for the Blind Puppy Raisers

My family has been raising puppies since 1991. We learned of Leader Dogs for the Blind and their need for puppy raisers through a notice in our church newsletter. After getting more information, we decided to apply for a puppy. Within 4 months, we were contacted by Leader Dogs. They said that they had a female yellow labrador retriever that would be ready for us to pick up in a couple weeks. We drove to a breeder's home in Illinois to pick up our yellow soccer ball with four legs and a head and covered in fur. We brought her home and named her Taffy. Over the next year, we contacted local businesses and obtained permission to bring her in for experience in stores, on buses, in the library, and other places. I joined the local 4-H Canine Obedience Club to help Taffy relate to other dogs since we had no other pets at home. 4-H was also beneficial because I was expected to work with my dog daily. This meant that I built a strong bond with her which would help her to bond with her blind person to form a team. Since Taffy, we have continued to raise puppies. We've changed and Leader Dogs has changed over the years, but it's great to be able to help other people by working with some of the best dogs(in my opinion) in the world.

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