Lions Clubs to hold Leader dog benefit

For The Herald Bulletin

June 12, 2008 08:03 pm

— The Lions Clubs of Madison County will conduct a fundraiser to benefit the Leader Dog School for the Blind on Saturday at various locations in Elwood, Frankton, Alexandria, Anderson, Lapel and Pendleton. Donations will be given to the dog school to improve and enlarge the training facility.
Times for the fundraiser may vary at the different locations, but most will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Leader Dogs (also called Seeing Eye Dogs) allow a sightless person to become as independent as many sighted persons. The dogs provide companionship and enable their owners to participate in activities that otherwise be impossible.
The dogs require a lengthy and intensive training as puppies. The training starts when the puppy is placed in an average home for one year to acquaint it with a family atmosphere.
They are then evaluated and placed in training school in Rochester, Minn., for several months of specific leadership education.
Dogs that perform successfully in this demanding phase and then assigned to a sightless owner for further training and compatibility evaluation. Upon completion of this intensive training period, the dogs become lifelong partners with their owners.
The cost of training each dog is $20,000. However, due to donations and sponsors, the dogs are furnished free of charge to the owner.
The Lions Clubs of Indiana have been sponsors of the Leader Dog Program for many years donating money to the school on a regular basis. This public donation drive is a special appeal to receive funds for the dog school.