Liberty Guide Dogs is a non-profit organization that trains guide dogs for people who are blind or visually impaired. This organization is dedicated to providing mobility, independence, and companionship to people with visual impairments.
Liberty Guide Dogs was founded in 1986 by Paul and Evelyn Blum, who had a vision of helping people with visual impairments lead fulfilling and independent lives.
History of Liberty Guide Dogs
Liberty Guide Dogs was founded in 1986 by Paul and Evelyn Blum. They opened the first guide dog school in the New York tri-state area and trained guide dogs to assist people with visual impairments.
The organization has grown over the years and has trained hundreds of dogs that have gone on to become lifelong partners and companions to people with visual impairments.
The Role of Guide Dogs
Guide dogs play an important role in the lives of people with visual impairments. They provide mobility and independence, allowing people to move around safely and confidently.
Guide dogs are highly trained to navigate through crowds, cross streets, and avoid obstacles. They also provide emotional support and companionship, helping their owners to feel less isolated.
The Training Process
The process of training a guide dog takes about two years and involves many steps. The first step in the process is selecting the right puppy. The puppy must have the right temperament, be confident, and have a strong work ethic.
Once a puppy is selected, it begins its training with a puppy raiser, who teaches it basic commands and socialization skills. At the age of 14-16 months, the puppy goes to a professional trainer for guide dog training. The trainer teaches the dog more advanced commands and skills, including obstacle avoidance and street crossing.
Once the dog has completed its training, it is matched with an owner and the two begin their lifelong partnership.
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Matching Guide Dogs with Owners
Matching a guide dog with an owner is a highly personalized process. The organization takes into consideration the owner’s lifestyle and needs, as well as the temperament and skills of the dog.
Once a match is made, the owner and dog go through a training process together to ensure that they can work together seamlessly. The training process is designed to be fun and rewarding for both the owner and the dog, and it helps to strengthen the bond between them.
Benefits of Owning a Guide Dog
Owning a guide dog has many benefits for people with visual impairments. The most obvious benefit is increased mobility and independence. Guide dogs can help their owners to navigate through crowded areas, cross streets safely, and avoid obstacles.
They also provide emotional support and companionship, which can help to reduce anxiety and feelings of isolation. Finally, owning a guide dog can improve the quality of life for people with visual impairments, allowing them to participate in activities they might not have been able to otherwise.
How to Support Liberty Guide Dogs
Liberty Guide Dogs relies on donations from individuals and corporations to carry out its mission. There are many ways that people can support the organization, including:.
- Donating money
- Becoming a puppy raiser
- Sponsoring a guide dog team
- Volunteering time
By supporting Liberty Guide Dogs, you can help to make a difference in the lives of people with visual impairments.
Conclusion
Liberty Guide Dogs is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to training guide dogs for people with visual impairments.
Through its training programs, Liberty Guide Dogs provides mobility, independence, and companionship to people with visual impairments. With your support, Liberty Guide Dogs can continue to make a difference in the lives of people with visual impairments.
