Rain or shine, one can almost always find me walking Flint or Edison through my small town. Flint and Edison are both yellow labradors training to become guide dogs through the organization Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Guiding Eyes for the Blind “is dedicated to enriching the lives of blind and visually impaired men and women by providing them with the freedom to travel safely, thereby assuring greater independence, dignity and new horizons of opportunity” (guidestar.org). Through grants and donations, Guiding Eyes for the Blind is able to give trained dogs to visually impaired individuals free of charge. The volunteers make it possible to provide the visually impaired with the most dedicated and disciplined canines. Just as all humans do not choose the same career, neither do the dogs. Some dogs at Guiding Eyes for the Blind may choose to become part of the Heeling Autism program or move onto other organizations where they will provide security to the public. My sophomore year of high …show more content…
As a volunteer, I will be able to watch the dogs I raise walk across the graduation stage with their new raiser confidently. Seeing a lab at a year old with a person’s life in their hands is one of the strongest bonds I have seen. I started volunteering to allow the visually impaired to trust their new companion and broaden their horizons. The visually impaired are given a new sense of confidence when this dog allows them to go on runs, cross the street, and navigate new places with ease. Dogs sent to the Heeling Autism program give families a sense of ease when the child’s level of social acceptance, independence, and confidence soar. The children feel safer and are tethered to the dog, preventing them from running into dangerous situations. Whichever path the dog chooses, the recipient is given a newfound sense of confidence and opportunities, that are