About
In 1946, when the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind was founded, its mission was simple: to provide guide dogs and training – free of charge – to people who were blind or have low vision.
A guide team walks in Nesconset Park during a training session.
For more than 75 years, the Guide Dog Foundation has trained and placed guide dogs and service dogs to provide increased independence and enhanced mobility to individuals who are blind, have low vision, or other disabilities. Once the decision is made to get a guide dog, applicants become part of the Foundations’ open and welcoming community and are supported with an uncompromising commitment to excellence, from highly empathetic and certified trainers to a meticulously constructed curriculum.
The Guide Dog Foundation pairs each student with the dog that’s right for them – and the power of their bond makes ordinary moments extraordinary. Crossing the street independently becomes a moment of liberation. Traveling alone becomes a welcome adventure. Embracing new experiences becomes an everyday occurrence.
In 2009, the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind became the first assistance dog school in the United States to be certified by the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International.
The Foundation has also been certified by PsychArmor, a national nonprofit that provides free education and support on how to work with, live with, or care for military veterans.
Accreditation and certification reinforce the organizations’ reputation by showing that we consistently follow the highest standards for the humane and ethical treatment of dogs, maintain educational benchmarks for trainers and apprentices, and that procedures are in place for consumers during the application process, including a way for them to address any grievances.