COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Leader Dogs for the Blind is based in Rochester Hills, Michigan and a former Coldwater resident who is a Leader dog trainer was in her hometown this week.
Ellie Ohm discussed her role as a puppy raiser for the non-profit organization when she spoke to the Coldwater Noon Rotary Club.
Ohm, who now lives in Grand Rapids and is a data analyst at Grand Valley State University, started training Leader Dogs when she was a sophomore at Coldwater High School.
Ohm explained to Rotarians the proper etiquette when you meet up in public with a Leader Dog.
She said never pet or come close to the animal because it could make the dog, especially if they are a medical alert dog, miss a low blood sugar or seizure alert due to you being a distraction.
According to Ohm, Leader Dogs for the Blind is the first such organization that doesn’t take any government funding and provides its services at no cost.
She said a Leader Dog would be worth an estimated $35,000.
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