LIONS CLUB
Program on Lions Eye Bank of Texas presented
BY BILLY WATSON SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR

Artys Brown announced training for the Eye Bank's Eye Screening would take two and a half hours. A motion was approved to have this training on Oct. 11.

Past President of District 2-S1 Lion Lew Vail presented a program from Lions Eye Bank of Texas on District 2-S1 Leader Dog training for the blind. Mr. Vail showed a video showing many leader dogs and the functions they performed in leading the blind. Many of the leader dogs are trained to assist the deaf as well as the blind. Many people agree to accept a young leader dog and train it for one year at their home before returning it back to the Leader Dog School in Michigan. The dogs are taught to beware of the traffic, to move slowly around objects, to heel, to properly lead the blind through revolving doors, and how to use elevators, to lead the blind up and down steps and stairs and to direct their masters in the proper use of curbs in the streets.

The leader dogs once turned over to their blind recipients must spend 26 days with them while staying in a dormitory designed for this purpose.

Naturally there is a great deal of training that must be provided to the recipients in properly using their leader dogs.

The dog and its recipient will become an inseparable team. The average length of time that the team is together is usually 10 years. All services provided to the recipient is free.

Guests were Charlie and Sally Glenn, Steve Simmons, Sheryl Potts, Glenna Martin, Connie Brown, Boots Burfoot and Mr. Vail.