Thursday, April 14, 2016

Ferguson Subaru Partners with Guide Dogs For The Blind

Guide Dogs For The Blind is an organization that according to their vision statement, "envisions a world with greater inclusion, opportunity and independence by optimizing the unique capabilities of people and dogs."

The organization was founded shortly after WWII, when the company's founder saw the need for aid to wounded veterans who returned from the war; veterans who were now blind or visually impaired. Through their exceptional breeding, puppy raising and training programs they quickly began to grow, and soon spread Guide Dogs For The Blind branches across the country. One of those branches was Lone Star Guide Dog Raisers.


Lone Star Guide Dog Raisers, based out of Texas, began with only six guide dog puppies and now has 186 dogs in training! The organization is made of volunteers who are all dedicated to raising their dogs and facilitating life-changing opportunities for the visually impaired.

The abilities Lone Star guide dogs possess (especially after their training is complete) is simply amazing. The dogs can detect changes in their owner's blood sugar and alert them well before any harmful symptoms arise; simply by smell. It takes 12 to 14 weeks to fully train their dogs.

During the Subaru Share the Love Event, Ferguson Subaru (and Subaru dealers across the country) donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased. New Subaru owner have a choice for that $250 donation to go to one of six charities. For Ferguson Subaru customers, Lone Stare Guide Dog Raisers is one of those six charities.

Last year, through the Share the Love campaign, Ferguson Subaru helped raise nearly $13,000 for Lone Star Guide Dog Raisers. Sandy Alsworth, Community Field Rep. for Lone Star Guide Dog Raisers, said that money went to transportation needs, breeding and medical equipment.

 2015 Share The Love Event | Pictured left to right: David Adams and Trevor Maki from Subaru of America, Ryan Ferguson from Ferguson Subaru, and Jerry Ferguson owner of Ferguson Subaru. Also pictured is Shiloh, a "puppy in training" from Guide Dogs For the Blind.

The Subaru Share The Love fundraising campaign is once again around the corner, and Ferguson Subaru is proud to renounce our renewed partnership with Lone Star Guide Dog Raisers. Several volunteers and "puppies in training" drove up from Texas, to our Broken Arrow Subaru dealer in preparation for the campaign. Ferguson Subaru owner, Jerry Ferguson, presented a check of $6,145 to launch the campaign!

People from left to right: Sandy Alsworth, Jerry Ferguson, Brenda Finch, Beth Adams, and Gretchen Ryan
Dogs from left to right: Nobu, Thea, Torch, and Crete
 
Back left to right: Shane Ogburn, Sandy Alsworth, Gale Venosdel, Tony Allen, Stewart Brown, Beth Adams, Lacey Shelton, and Fergie Bear
Bottom left to right: Brenda Finch and Gretchen Ryan

         


We encourage any potential Subaru customer to purchase or lease a new Subaru during the Share The Love Event, and to have the $250 donation (provided by Subaru) go to the Lone Star Guide Dog Raisers organization.


To learn more about the Subaru Share The Love Event visit FergusonSubaru.com

To learn more about Lone Star Guide Dog Raisers visit LoneStarGuideDogRaisers.com