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Guide Dogs For the Blind
Guide Dogs For the Blind Celebrates More Than 66 Years o Service and Lifetime Partnerships
Non-Profit Organization Dedicated to Enhancing Mobility and Quality of Life
San Rafael, Calif. (FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE) - Established in 1942, Guide Dogs for the Blind provides enhanced mobility and quality of life to people who are blind through lifetime partnerships with Guide Dogs. This non-profit organization, located in San Rafael, Calif. and Boring, Ore., is the largest school of its kind and has produced more than 11,000 partnerships across the United States and Canada.
Guide Dogs for the Blind is recognized worldwide as a model for innovative training, unprecedented support following graduation and success rate of their Guide Dog partnerships.
The organization breeds yellow and black Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and Labrador Retriever/Golden Retriever crosses.
Guide Dogs for the Blind utilizes dogs with specific traits needed for guide work, including excellent health, intelligence and temperament as well as a willingness to work and thrive on praise. From the earliest stages of their lives, the puppies are cared for by a team of experts including full-time veterinarians and technicians supported by consulting specialists and volunteers.
At the age of 8 weeks to approximately 15-18 months, the young canines are raised by volunteer puppy raising families. The dogs then return to campus, where they will receive formal training for 4-5 months to prepare them for their future career.
Each month throughout the year, new classes of approximately 25 students arrive at both campuses to meet their Guide Dogs and spend up to a month of in-residence training with them. Services are provided to students from the United States and Canada at no cost to them, including a Guide Dog, air transportation, room and board, training, equipment as well as financial assistance for veterinary care and alumni support services.
Upon the retirement of each Guide Dog, the graduate is invited to return to Guide Dogs for the Blind for training with a new Guide Dog. Additionally, Guide Dogs for the Blind helps ensure every one of its dogs is well cared for during its life, whether or not it becomes a Guide Dog.
Guide Dogs for the Blind, headquartered in San Rafael, Calif., has been creating life-long partnerships in the community since 1942. Its services are provided free-of-charge to those it serves, and relies solely on private donations. If you know someone who could benefit from a Guide Dog, please let them know about this program. For more information, contact Guide Dogs for the Blind via the internet at www.guidedogs.com and/or toll-free at (800) 295-4050.
Media Contact:
Denise St. Jean: (415) 492-5544
dstjean@guidedogs.com
PLEASE NOTE: High resolution digital photos available
