OccuPaws Guide Dog Association is a nonprofit organization based out of Madison, WI that places fully trained guide dogs with blind individuals in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois at no cost to the individual. A generous donation provided by the Sonnentag Foundation, County Materials’ philanthropic arm, helped a deserving woman match with her new guide dog, Felix.
To ensure a smooth home transition, OccuPaws provides customized on-site training at each client’s home and the places they frequent. The program lasts 10-14 days and is led by Guide Dog Mobility Instructors who have specialized training in orientation and mobility. This service is unique to OccuPaws, as the majority of guide dog schools require clients to travel to the program for several weeks at a time to learn how to work with their new companion. The organization understands personal life circumstances may prohibit individuals from leaving home for extended periods of time and wants to ensure each qualifying and capable individual can receive companionship and enjoyment from a service dog.
Fully trained dogs are matched with their humans depending on several lifestyle traits: personality, activity levels, and walking speed. This process ensures the pair will be successful. An OccuPaws guide dog recipient reflected on the experience and said, “To say that OccuPaws was a life changer for me is a vast understatement! I had just retired from teaching special education, and quite honestly, I was very concerned about my non-teaching life and the continuation of my independence. I found that the public is more comfortable approaching a blind person who is using a guide dog versus a white cane. I have met so many new people and had wonderful conversations about not only blindness, but also about the OccuPaws program. Thank you so much OccuPaws for giving me this incredible gift, and please know I am forever grateful.”
It is apparent that OccuPaws and its guide dogs have significantly impacted the lives of each person they have worked with. The Sonnentag Foundation is proud to assist organizations, like OccuPaws, in making a difference in the communities where County Materials and its team members reside.
