• Plastic Dogs Are Not an Oversight to Those Without Sight By Steven Doucette (NEW - 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
• 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

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
• Diamond In The Ruff Medical Dogs
  Located in the GTA, Ontario (Serving all of Canada)
  Tel.: 905-782-3647
  Offering pre-trained medical service dogs, owner assisted medical service dogs and obedience classes for the general public, seniors and those with disabilities in a home-like environment simulating real life for a great well-rounded family pet. Providing services for all medical and physical conditions including cross mobility dogs.
• 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.
• National Service Dogs Training Centre Inc. (NSD)
  NSD specializes in breeding, training and placing Labrador and Golden Retrievers with children under age 10 who have autism. NSD also provides service dogs for children with physical and visual challenges who are under age 18. NSD's newest program is the Guide Dog Program.
• The Seeing Eye
  To enhance the independence, dignity, and self-confidence of blind people through the use of Seeing Eye dogs.
• Western Guide & Assistance Dog Society
  Provides highly skilled guide dogs and quality professional in-home training with continued follow-up assistance to enhance the mobility and independence of the visually impaired in the Canadian Prairies.
• 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.

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.

The Harness	The Harness is a magazine for people who use assistance dogs. It explores such issues as canine health care, access issues, travel concerns, and legislation from a Canadian perspective. For further details, visit www.theharness.ca or contact Miss Devon Wilkins at theharness@rogers.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
	Leader Dogs for the Blind by Margaret Gibbs How the Leader Dogs School selects dogs, raises puppies and trains owners to live independently. — Available from Dogwise.com
	Helping Hounds: Assistance Dogs by Alison Hornsby Examines exactly what is involved in training a Guide Dog, Hearing Dog, Dog for the Disabled, and Therapy Dog, from puppyhood right through to adulthood. — Available from Dogwise.com
	Looking Out For Sarah by Glenna Lang As we get to know Perry, a black Labrador guide dog, we learn about the ways a guide dog helps a blind person and their deeply affectionate, symbiotic partnership. — Available from Dogwise.com
	Legal Rights of Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs and Service Dogs, 8th Edition by Michael Roche For individuals with disabilities partnered with Assistance Dogs and the trainers of Assistance Dogs. State-by-state laws. — Available from Dogwise.com
	Kids & Animals: A Healing Partnership Video by Kindred Souls A remarkable 1 hour video that takes you on an emotional journey as you explore the healing bonds formed between children and animals. Award Winning Documentary, Family Approved. — Available from Dogwise.com
Guide Dogs (Dogs At Work) (School And Library) Describes the selection, training, accomplishments, and history of guide dogs. Author: George, Charles/ George, Linda. Number of Pages: 48. Published On: 1998/06/01. Language: ENGLISH