Guide Dogs of Texas greatly appreciates its volunteers, and we couldn’t exist without them. As our organization continues to grow each year, we are in need of more volunteers. There are numerous ways for you to get involved. This includes everything from cooking meals for our clients while they’re in training to grooming and feeding our incredible dogs.
Community Volunteers
Would you like to serve as an “ambassador” for Guide Dogs of Texas? You can. As an ambassador, you will represent the organization on our behalf by interacting with the community. Your duties might involve everything from educating the public about who we are and what we do, to assisting at health fairs or trade shows and public speaking at schools or to civic groups. You can also help by raising funds for Guide Dogs of Texas through special events, event chairing, and serving on an event committee.
Client Volunteers
After a client is matched with a guide dog, he or she comes to live at our training center for two to three weeks. We always need individuals or families who are willing to come to the center to cook or provide meals and social time for our clients while they are here for class. We need volunteers such as drivers to transport clients to speaking engagements as well as “sighted guides,” who help clients navigate around public places of which they are not familiar.
Puppy Raisers
Puppies require a lot of love, care and attention – and our young guide dogs-to-be are no different. As they grow and prepare for the very important job of becoming service dogs, we are seeking kind and caring individuals in the San Antonio and surrounding areas to volunteer as puppy raisers and puppy sitters.
Advanced Training
Even as our dogs transition into advanced training they are still in need of loving and dedicated volunteers to assist with their care. Kennel assistants, for instance, can come in routinely and assist the kennel manager with jobs around the kennel. Boarders are able to take home an assigned dog each weekend and give them a chance to take a little break from their training.
Breeding
Would you like to be able to host a litter of puppies in your own house? Our breeding program is in need of brood and stud holders, as well as sitters, which means having an adult male or female dog living in your home, and possibly having a litter of future guide dogs born there. In addition, the breeding program is in need of dedicated individuals interested in becoming whelping and puppy development assistants to help care for the newborns and growing pups once the litter has been born in the brood holder’s home.
To volunteer
To volunteer for any of these positions, contact Susana Dias at susana@guidedogsoftexas.org or call (210) 366-4081.
