For The Blind

Our Mission

Guide Dogs for the Blind provides enhanced mobility to qualified individuals through partnership with dogs whose unique skills are developed and nurtured by dedicated volunteers and a professional staff.

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Adapted from “Guide Dog Puppy Raising Manual”,©Guide Dogs for the Blind. Inc. 2003 Puppy Raising Manual

by Walter HebernMIST Technology

CSUMB

For The BlindIt all began with a dream of creating the first guide dog training school on the West Coast shared by Lois Merrihew and Don Donaldson. They recognized the need to help wounded servicemen who would return from World War II without their sight.

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SchoolSchoolThe school was incorporated in 1942 and began training dogs and instructing students in a rented home in Los Gatos, California, south of San Jose. A German Shepherd named Blondie was one of the first dogs trained. She was later paired with Sgt. Leonard Foulk, the first serviceman to graduate from the new school.

In 1947, the school was moved to its present 11-acre campus in San Rafael, California, 20 miles north of San Francisco. In 1995, our other campus opened in Boring, Oregon, 25 miles east of Portland on 27 acres. Guide Dogs for the Blind has graduated close to 10,000 teams over the past 60 years.

Image used with permission ©Guide Dogs for the Blind, inc.

For The BlindPuppy raisersOver 1,200 raisers donate their time and effort in the care and socialization of our puppies. Guide Dog puppy raisers are living in eight Western states: California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Utah and Colorado.

Puppy raising leadersAll puppy raisers are members of a puppy raising club. These clubs are guided by a leader; some clubs have several leaders.

The Puppy Raising and Dog Placement DepartmentRaisers and leaders also work closely with members of the Puppy Raising and Dog Placement Department at Guide Dogs for the Blind. Each advisor's territory includes 100 or more puppy raisers and up to 50 leaders and may encompass several states. Advisors provide hands-on training, advice and support to leaders and raisers in their territories to improve their understanding of socialization and training standards required by Guide Dogs for the Blind.

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For The Blind

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BreedsThe finest dogs are chosen for our breeding program. They have been carefully selected for the unique characteristics that are required to produce successful working guides.

The breeding program at Guide Dogs for the Blind was established in the late 1940s. Currently, the breeding colony consists of purebred Labrador Retrievers (black and yellow), German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers. Our Labrador Retrievers have historically enjoyed the greatest success as working guides

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Life in the KennelsThe Kennel Department is responsible for the care of all dogs that are not in training. The dogs and puppies are under the supervision of our professional staff 24 hours a day.

This round-the-clock care allows for the monitoring of all births as they occur, care and feeding of newborn puppies, efficient administration of medications and veterinary care, and careful observation of dogs recovering from surgery.

The puppy kennel is also the place where the puppies first experience the outside world. Six days per week, they are socialized and walked on campus by volunteer Puppy Socializers.

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Veterinary CareThe Veterinary Clinics at Guide Dogs' two campuses would be the envy of most

veterinarians in private practice with their hydraulic lift examining tables, scales

and modern surgery rooms. Everything is kept immaculately clean. It is obvious

to visitors that Guide Dogs places great stock in the care of its puppies and dogs.

Full-time veterinarians and a staff of technicians are supported by outside

specialists whenever

needed, as well as

volunteers.

Veterinarians assist in

whelpings by

performing caesarian

sections if needed.

Image used with permission ©Guide Dogs for the Blind, inc.

For The Blind

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Scholarships

Guide Dogs for the Blind has funded scholarships for our youth

puppy raisers for many years. We are pleased to offer this

opportunity:

to provide an incentive for

further education

to encourage the development

of skills that will contribute to a

more productive life

to provide recognition of

commendable work and

accomplishment in Guide Dog

puppy raising

For The BlindInternshipsAnother special opportunity for youth is our

internship program. Each summer, youth

contribute both to the Guide Dogs program

and to their own personal, educational, and

career development by interning at the

California campus. An internship generally

runs for two weeks. Interns are assigned to

a specific department, which could be the

Puppy Raising and Dog Placement,

Veterinary Clinic, Public Information or any

department at Guide Dogs. Guide Dogs

attempts to assign interns from outside the

area to live in the homes of staff members

or other volunteers during their internships.

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For more information on internships at our California campus, please contact the Volunteer

Department at (800) 295-4050.

For The BlindCareer opportunitiesMany of our raisers have gone on to become employees at Guide Dogs for the

Blind. We encourage all of our puppy raising volunteers to consider a

meaningful career in the Training Department or other departments at Guide

Dogs. If you like dogs, enjoy working with people, and want a career that

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makes a difference, the

Training Department could

be the place for you (or

someone you know)! Work

with a team of professional

instructors who help

provide enhanced mobility

to qualified individuals

through a partnership with

trained dogs.