How You Can Show Your Support During National Guide Dog Month
Posted Sep 19, 2024 in Seasonal
September is in full swing, so it’s time to shine some light on and show our appreciation for guide dogs! National Guide Dog Month was established by a non-profit guide dog school in 2009. For the last 15 years, we’ve recognized the impact guide dogs have had on people who are blind or visually impaired and those who support these animals.
Guide dogs are trained to help their blind or visually impaired handlers get around safely. This could involve avoiding obstacles, locating objects, following commands, and providing companionship. Celebrating these dogs is essential because they are so much more than a furry friend. They don’t just offer friendship; they provide life-changing care and support.
In honor of National Guide Dog Month, we’ve compiled the best ways to support these canines. Regardless of how big or small your contribution is, these pups and their handlers will appreciate your kindness and care.
Make Donations
Donations, no matter the size, help provide resources that improve the quality of life for humans and their guiding counterparts! Your gift can fund veterinary care, fund a pup’s basic dietary needs, teach specialized training, and equip clients with whatever they need. There are plenty of organizations you can make a gift or donation to that will support the needs of these pooches.
Donating to the Guide Dog Foundation can help provide blankets and beds, vests, vaccinations, training equipment, and even travel expenses! Another organization called Guide Dogs of America uses donations to directly support operating expenses. Guide Dogs for the Blind use their donations to provide leashes and grooming supplies, cover client transportation costs, provide veterinary care for pups in training, and help support their overall cost of training.
Volunteer
No worries if donating monetarily isn’t for you. Donating your time can offer just as much support, and plenty of ways exist! Puppy raising can be a fun and rewarding way to support these hardworking dogs. As a puppy raiser, you’ll teach or train these pups basic obedience and socialize them to feel comfortable in the outside world. Learning these skills is crucial for any dog working to help their human counterpart, and you could be a part of that!
You can also take the initiative and learn how to guide a person with sight loss for times when it may not be ideal to bring their guide dog along. Many organizations, like Guide Dogs, offer free sighted guide training so everyone can be comfortable.
You can also work with any guide dog organization by running a toy drive, fundraising, or in hospitality. Explore these three guide dog organizations that are offering volunteer opportunities!
Educate and Advocate
Another step you can take to support these animals is to take the time to learn and educate yourself about them. Guide dogs do so much more than lead the way, so we must give them credit when it’s due. Furthermore, once you’ve educated yourself, try to offer your newfound knowledge to those around you. Share posts on social media and platform organizations that are doing good in your community. Take the time to correct misconceptions when they come about.
As you become more comfortable with this topic, take it to your community officials or even just to the small businesses in your community that do not accommodate the visually impaired. By bringing these issues to the attention of your community, you could improve accommodations for those impacted. This could mean new ramps or safer public transportation for those using guide dogs.
Practice Approprite Etiquette
The simplest thing you can do to support guide dogs and their handlers this September is to practice appropriate etiquette when you see them! Avoid petting or distracting a working dog from doing its job. As cute as these furballs are, distracting them can cause issues for their handler.
Do not walk too closely to a handler and their pup so they have the room to walk freely, and do not give the working dog commands. Doing so can cause frustration, confusion, and distractions. You wouldn’t want to be at work getting different instructions from someone who isn’t even your boss, so respect these pups and let them focus!
September doesn’t have to be the only month we celebrate guide dogs. With these tips, you can support these hardworking furballs all year round!