Guide Dogs of America

Last Saturday Chris and I went to the Guide Dogs of America open house to learn about the guide dog training and placement process.  When we arrived the the event was in full swing and it was a little hard to figure out what was going on.  There were quite a few things to do... there was a silent auction, a dog obstacle course, a raffle, dog kissing booth, and tours of the facility.  We went on the last tour of the day.  I don't remember our tour guide's name, but our doggie tour guide was Dexter.

Some facts I learned on the tour:

• The dogs live with a puppy raiser (volunteer) for the first 12-18 months of their life.


• After their time with the puppy raiser they go back to the facility to work with a certified trainer.


• About 50% of the dogs who start training actually work as a guide dog.


• If a dog fails the training program the dog's puppy raiser gets first dibs at having the dog join their family as a pet.


• The minimum age for a blind person to get a dog is 16.  There is not upper age limit. (The person the house was started for was over 50 years old and denied a guide dog b/c they were too old)


• The total cost for a dog who makes it through the training and is teamed with a blind person is about $40,000.


• The blind people go through training with the dog and receive the dog free of charge.


• Guide Dogs of America doesn't get government funding.  It operates solely on donations and volunteers.

[caption id="attachment_4" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Guide Dogs of America facility"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Puppy Kissing Booth"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_6" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Guide Dog in Training"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_7" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Not sure why Llamas were there. I'm guessing for the kids."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_8" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Dexter, our tour guide"][/caption]

Guide Dogs of America Website