On Oct. 9, the Oakview Hall walkway hosted a beautiful meeting before sundown. The Future Leader Dogs club at OU was represented by the organization’s president, Mackenzie Nichols, and Henry, a cute black Labrador puppy currently in training.
The Blind Leading Club is an organization that “selects students to raise puppies for one year as official Puppy Raisers for Leader Dogs for the Blind,” the club writes on its website. It encourages all students to participate, even with no knowledge of training.
The Michigan-based organization allows for students to have a companion throughout the year, and to grow along with them, while simultaneously spreading awareness of service dogs throughout campus.
The club invited incoming members to spread this newfound knowledge by drawing with chalk on the sidewalk, and as an extra incentive, Yates Cider Mill donuts and cider were shared.
The notices sent out to students prior to the event proved to be effective. “I heard about it through the Honors College, I received an email that said, ‘Honors College Announcements’ and I just read more into it,” Elizabeth Horne, a student, said after petting Henry.
“I heard it from my friend Ellie, who emailed me the brochure of the Honors College, and they have volunteering opportunities to get hours for the Honors College requirements,” Sara Baylon said.
As for her first thoughts on the club, “I think it’s amazing” Baylon said. “They are raising awareness for the blind and also for the dogs that help.”
The club has been running for just a couple of years, and many dogs have been able to graduate into fully trained leader dogs for the visually impaired. “I think it’s important to acknowledge the different parts that go into disabled people and how we help them,” Baylon said.
“I really like dogs, and I didn’t know that campus buddies and puppy raisers were options they offered,” Horne said.
Nichols, the president of the club, shared a few words describing how members can become involved, along with some statistics stating the number of students, nationwide, that are in need of a service dog to navigate campuses properly.
“I like it, I’m glad it brings out everyone here,” Nick Devie, a student, said after drawing small symbols with chalk to represent the visually impaired and the club. “I think it’s a great experience for everyone.”
A pumpkin and dog bone painting event will be hosted to celebrate Halloween with the training dogs. The recreational event is also aimed at informing students on how they can contribute to helping individuals with visual impairments.
Events like these have taken the student organization from 160 members at the beginning of the semester to 270 after three meetings during the Fall.
After a day of playing with puppies and learning about accessibility on campus, attendees expressed interest in the upcoming events hosted by the organization “I am, I already signed up for the next three [meetings], because I love puppies and I love the cause,” Baylon said.
For more information on Future Leader Dogs at Oakland University, visit their GrizzOrgs page or their Instagram profile.
