Leader Dogs

Did You Know?

In the United States:

• 1,300,000 people are legally blind.
• 75,000 people become blind or visually impaired each year.
• 10% of these people travel independently with a white cane or a guide dog.

Every year, Lions and Leader Dogs:

• Enable 1,095,000 days of independence for those who are blind and visually impaired.
• 200 leader dogs are matched with clients.
• 100 clients are provided white cane training.
• 24 teenagers gain leadership and travel skills.
• 6 clients who are both deaf and blind receive customized guide dog training.
• No cost is passed on to clients because Leader Dogs is 100% donor funded.

How & Why:

Leader Dogs for the Blind is a nonprofit organization that empowers people who are blind or visually impaired by providing them with guide dogs, orientation and mobility training, and other resources to enhance their independence and quality of life. Founded in 1939 and based in Rochester Hills, Michigan, Leader Dogs for the Blind offers its services completely free of charge, thanks to generous donations and volunteer support. The organization breeds and trains Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds to become guide dogs capable of safely navigating a variety of environments. In addition to matching guide dogs with clients, Leader Dogs also offers specialized training programs for individuals with both vision and hearing loss, as well as those seeking to improve their independent travel skills. Through personalized support and cutting-edge training methods, the organization helps thousands of people achieve greater freedom and confidence.

Updates:

August, 2026 --Lion Mary Beth Schwab, District Leader Dog Chair

Another Busy Year… Last year was a busy year for Leader Dogs for the Blind. Lions from across the nation helped raise over $2.2 million dollars to support their mission.  Those funds enabled them to process the most applications they have ever received in a year. 999 applications were received from the US, Canada, Mexico and Spain. They served 353 individuals with 110 receiving guide dogs, 214 came for Orientation and Mobility Training and 23 individuals came for the Teen Summer Camp.

This year, Leader Dog initiated a new vision rehabilitation pilot program with six participants. The program is a direct response from the client survey taken in 2024-25. Three areas that continue to be mentioned are independent living skills, access to technology, and self-defense. Each participant was able to learn living skills such as cooking, how to know what clothes you are wearing, cleaning, etc. as well as the opportunity to learn about the Meta Ray Ban Glasses and how to defend themselves if needed. Two one-week programs were offered.  They will have a second round of the pilot program this year.

And, the Puppies are here!!! Each year Leader Dogs for the Blind introduces us to three Future Leader Dogs that are available to be symbolically sponsored. This year’s puppies are all being raised by Lions. They are Hunter, Leyah and Presley. When you or your club sponsors a puppy for $500, you receive photos of the puppy, a puppy profile, an official sponsorship certificate and a plush puppy. Most importantly, you have the knowledge that your gift will help change a life.

There are several different ways to support Leader Dogs for the Blind in addition to sponsoring a puppy. You can have an inscribed brick placed on their campus plaza, join their Paws 365 Monthly Giving community or honor a Lion with a Lions Leader Dog Medallion. Any way you support Leader Dogs for the Blind, you are contributing to making a person unstoppable.

Leader Dogs for the Blind continues to make a difference in the lives of people. They work to empower people who are blind or have low vision build the skills and confidence to navigate their world independently. You help to make this possible with your support.

Please contact me if your club would be interested in a program on Leader Dog.