Community Corner

Volunteers Drive Leader Dogs' Efforts

Carol Tough has worked with Leader Dogs since 2009.

This is the first in a five-part series profiling the different faces involved with Leader Dogs for the Blind. 

When she retired in 2009 after 30 years of working for General Motors, Carol Tough was looking for ways to keep herself busy.

"I wanted to volunteer with three organizations, all within the (Rochester) community, and have them all be totally different," Tough said.

Her love of dogs made one the three organizations, Rochester Hills' Leader Dogs for the Blind, an easy choice. Leader Dogs for the Blind provides guide dogs, mobility and orientation training and assistance for the visually impaired.

"I had enough sitting at home after a few months and began volunteering at Leader Dogs," she said. "I wanted to do something in the community because I love dogs so much."
Starting as a receptionist at the organization's sprawling Rochester Hills campus, Tough also began working one night a week with the organization's puppies. 
"It was really, really fun," she said.
In 2011, she said, she had the opportunity to start working in the organization's gift shop, which she says connects her with the clients who benefit from Leader Dogs.
"I've met so many of our clients in the gift shop and I have to say that when I joined Leader Dogs, it's because I really love dogs, but I'm staying at Leader Dogs because I love our clients," she said.

She said hearing the stories and seeing the positive attitudes of the visually impaired clients gives her daily inspiration.

"I think their view on life with such a can-do attitude is really inspiring," she said. "Dogs are really fun, but being with a client—if you haven't done it—once you do you'll understand it."
Tough's volunteer life remains busy. She also volunteers with the Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan, which is focused on helping children, and the Rochester Avon Historical Society, which works on preservation within the Rochester community. But Tough wouldn't have it any other way.
"General Motors was very good to me. I had a wonderful 30 years there but this retirement is a whole new lifestyle for me and I love volunteering," she said. "I'm very busy and I love it."

Tough said her work at Leader Dogs doesn't go without recognition, either.

"One of the things I can say is the difference between working at General Motors and Leader Dogs, at GM you get a thank-you once every 10 years and at Leader Dogs I'm thanked 10 times a day," she said. "It just makes me smile to be there."

Check back tomorrow to meet another person involved with Leader Dogs for the Blind.


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