• Plastic Dogs Are Not an Oversight to Those Without Sight By Steven Doucette (Added 14 April 2008)
• What Everyone Should Know About Guide Dogs for the Blind from the Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind.
• Access & Etiquette — Article from GDA
• Individual State and Province Access Laws — From Guide Dogs for the Blind
• At A Glance - An Educational Resource Guide (PDF) — Provides information on blindness and guide dog use to teachers and students for the development of curriculum, reports, and projects on blindness and disability.
• So...You Want to be a Puppy Raiser?! — Catch a glimpse into what it could be like as a first time puppy raiser... Here is the story from inside a puppy raiser's heart!
• The Puppy Place — The Puppy Place is devoted to promoting Seeing Eye and Guide Dog programs and schools located throughout the United States. Excellent resource for information about Seeing Eye Dogs, Guide Dogs, and puppy raising.
• A Brief History Of Seeing Eye Dogs — by Kirsten Hawkins Added 18 March 2006

Sniff The DOG Movie is now available as a limited edition Gala Release DVD! 10% of the proceeds from your purchase will go to a non-profit canine organization. or Click here to view more details. The movie will be shown on the big screen in Ontario in December - two screenings in Toronto and one in Ottawa. CLICK HERE for details. — A fun and informative movie that follows the lives of dogs at work and at play; including the training of Guide Dogs and Search and Rescue Dogs. (Click on the play button below to watch the trailer.)

Associations & Organizations:
(Listed in alphabetical order)

• British Columbia Guide Dog Services
  Dedicated to the further development of the Guide Dog movement in British Columbia. B.C. Guide Dog Services holds the aims and objectives of improved availability, and increased level of service/support through the provision of professionally trained Guide Dogs, for the visually impaired residents of British Columbia.
• The Canadian Foundation for Animal-Assisted Support Services
  P.O. Box 279
  Winchester, Ontario, K0C 2K0
  Tel.: 613-774-0001
  E-mail: generalinfo@cf4aass.org
  Website address: www.cf4aass.org and www.cf4aass.org/events

  Vision Statement: Our vision is to support the innovation, coordination, and integration of Animal-Assisted Support Services.

  Mission Statement: Our mission is to receive and maintain a fund to build the capabilities of individuals facing physical, intellectual, emotional, behavioral, developmental, social and spiritual challenges through the use of animal assisted therapy and related services.

  Goals: To unite Animal-Assisted Support Services Stakeholders to identify core values and common priorities to stimulate collaborative action in the spirit of cooperation and inclusiveness. To inspire and ensure a consistent level of quality, safety, and End-user satisfaction.

• Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind
  To assist visually-impaired Canadians with their mobility by providing and training them in the use of professionally trained Guide Dogs.
• The Canadian National Institute for the Blind
• Guide Dog Users of Canada
  GDUC helps guide dog users maximize the benefits of mobility with a guide dog so that they may participate more fully in Canadian society.
• Guide Dog Users Inc.
  GDUI is an international organization dedicated to advocacy, peer support, public education and all aspects of training, working and living with dogs specially-trained to guide blind and visually-impaired people.
• Guide Dogs for the Blind
  Provides Guide Dogs and training in their use to visually impaired people throughout the United States and Canada.
• Guide Dogs of America
  An International Guiding Eyes Program — Guide Dogs of America is dedicated to its mission to provide guide dogs and instruction in their use, free of charge, to blind and visually impaired men and women from the United States and Canada so that they may continue to pursue their goals with increased mobility and independence.
• Guiding Eyes for the Blind
  An internationally recognized guide dog school.
• International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP)
  A non-profit, cross-disability organization representing people partnered with guide, hearing and service dogs.
• International Guide Dog Federation
  To encourage and advance the concept and provision of Guide Dogs worldwide as a means of independent mobility for people with a vision disability.
• Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides
  Lions Foundation of Canada is a federally incorporated charitable foundation founded by the Lions Clubs of Canada. Its mission is to provide service to physically challenged Canadians in the areas of mobility, safety, and independence. Lions Foundation of Canada was incorporated on February 20, 1983, and provides Dog Guides to Canadians through three on-going programs:
  • Canine Vision Canada,
  
  
  • Hearing Ear Dogs of Canada, and
  
  
  • Special Skills Dogs of Canada.
• Mira Foundation
  Objective: To bring greater autonomy to handicapped people and to facilitate their social integration by providing them with dogs that are fully trained to meet the needs of each individual, including Guide Dogs.
• The Seeing Eye
  To enhance the independence, dignity, and self-confidence of blind people through the use of Seeing Eye dogs.
• Worldwide Welcome Waggin' — Home of International Puppy Raisers
  Members of this organization are people who raise puppies that will serve as Assistance Dogs, including Guide, Service, Hearing and Seizure Response Dogs. Includes an e-mail list for members to communicate.

For a list of upcoming fundraisers and events, please CLICK HERE to view the general Calendar of Events.

Foster Families for Guide Dog Puppies in Training

Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind

Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind requires foster families to home a guide dog puppy in training. These puppies must be welcomed as a member of the family, learning basic obedience and be introduced to a multitude of situations that will aid them in eventually becoming working guide dogs for the blind. Applicants must have a fenced area for the dog and access to a vehicle, plus someone must be home or with the puppy most of the day. The foster family is responsible for training the dog obedience and socialization skills, working closely with a professional dog trainer from Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind. For the volunteer, it’s much like having your own puppy, but you must add specific commands and rules which are geared towards this puppy becoming a guide dog. It’s a long-term commitment of twelve to eighteen months, having the puppy accompany you almost everywhere you go, and adapting to the knowledge that the dog must be given back to enter into formal training. A large part of the reward is the chance for the puppy you raised to graduate as a working guide dog, to provide an incredible gift to a visually impaired person, and to have the opportunity to meet the person that the guide dog is matched with. Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind provides all food for the puppy and is responsible for all veterinary expenses. Information sessions are held on a regular basis. To attend one, contact Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind at (613) 692-7777. Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind has been providing professionally trained guide dogs to visually impaired Canadians since 1984. For information/interview opportunities: Steven Doucette Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind Tel.: (613) 692-7777 Email: guidedogspr@sympatico.ca Web: www.guidedogs.ca

Note to Working Dog Organizations: If you have any upcoming fundraisers or events that you would like listed here, please e-mail us with the details and we will be pleased to add them.

	Working Like Dogs - The Service Dog Guide Book by Marcie Davis & Melissa Bunnell The A-Z resource book for service dogs. A must read for anyone who is considering a service dog, has a service dog, is responsible for the care of a service dog, or anyone who wants to learn more about the service dog partnership. — Available from Dogwise.com
	Partners in Independence: A Success Story of Dogs and the Disabled by Ed & Toni Eames Provides an unique view of blind, deaf and physically disabled persons and the remarkable dogs that make it possible them to more fully participate in the world around them. — Available from Dogwise.com