Leader Dogs

Lions clubs have supported Leader Dogs for the Blind, their clients and their canines from the very beginning. For 75 years Lions have contributed financially, identified people in their community who could benefit from Leader Dog’s services, assisted their clients in filling out applications and spread information about their programs throughout their hometowns and Districts.(In the interest of full disclosure, many other organizations besides Lions have supported Leader Dog programs over the years as well.)

From the website of  http://www.LeaderDog.org, this excerpt:

Leader Dogs for the Blind would not exist today if not for Lions Clubs International. Beginning with the support of one club, Leader Dog is now supported by Lions Clubs from all over the world.

It all began in 1938, when Charles A. Nutting, Donald P. Schurr and S.A. Dodge led the Uptown Lions Club of Detroit in establishing a school to train guide dogs for people who are blind. Their motivation was Dr. Glenn Wheeler, a fellow Uptown Lion whose attempts to be accepted by another guide dog organization proved unsuccessful. The first clients were housed at the Park Avenue Hotel in Detroit and graduated in the fall of 1938. Three Detroit Lions Clubs held a contest among all Lions Clubs for a new name for their venture. Over 500 names were submitted from around the world. The winning name “Lions Leader” was submitted by the Lions Club of Coulterville, Illinois.

Leader dogs cost approximately $40,000 per dog to train, and they are furnished free of charge to the new owner.

Lions Clubs throughout the world have continued to support Leader Dog and its clients financially, brought thousands of people who needed assistance through Leader Dog’s doors and have continued to serve on the Board of Trustees and in many other ways.

THIS IS CERTAINLY ONE OF OUR PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENTS