Paws for Patriots provides guide dogs to veterans who have been blinded serving in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Years ago, as a homeschooling project, the Walker family started training guide dogs. They’re currently on their eighth dog. It takes two years with the volunteer family before the puppy has been trained and socialized sufficiently to start six months of intensive training. After that, he can be given to a veteran.
Dogs-in-training come with a 140-page manual and about 50 commands to teach, but “mainly it’s love and attention,” Scott Walker said. That, and socializing the dog - getting it used to being around people, staying quiet in restaurants and just generally not being startled by whatever may come up in an average, or not-so-average day….
“This is just not taking on a pet,” Cowan [of Southeastern Guide Dogs] said. “This is socializing a dog that will lead someone for life.”
Source: Macon Telegraph
Here’s the link to the Puppy Raisers page in case your homeschooling family might be interested in this volunteer opportunity.