Big increase in applications for guide dogs

Top: There are currently 40 puppies in training to become guide dogs. Above: Delores and Roselle, two puppies on the path to becoming guide dogs. DANICA OLIVA PHOTOS

CNIB: Cost of a guide dog should never be a barrier to independence

CNIB, a non-profit organization that supports people who are blind or partially sighted in Canada, has its most ambitious GivingTuesday target to date with a goal to raise $250,000 for its CNIB Guide Dogs program.

“Meeting this goal will allow us train five guide dogs and, thanks to a generous donation in memory of Bryan and Bette Rowntree, that will be matched with an overall goal to raise $500,000 to train 10 dogs,” says Danielle Brown, vice president of philanthropy, CNIB.

CNIB says people who are blind report having a guide dog is a transformational experience.

“Being part of a guide dog team provides mobility, safety and confidence, leading to increased independence and a sense of connection with the world,” says Ms. Brown.

For many people who are blind, getting from point A to point B independently can be overwhelming and even dangerous. There are hazards everywhere – from construction sites to potholes, inaccessible crosswalks, snowbanks and new environments.

“At CNIB, we believe that everyone who wants to have a guide dog should have that opportunity,” says Ms. Brown. “We believe the cost of owning a guide dog should never be a barrier to independence, and the gifts we receive from generous Canadians ensure the handler (the person who is matched with the dog) only needs to focus on their mobility. They can leave the financial responsibility to us.”

The CNIB Guide Dogs program follows a person-centric approach. From the point a person with sight loss pursues training, to the placement of the dog and throughout the dog’s working life, the organization offers a wide range of supplementary services, including peer support.

Since 2020, applications for CNIB Guide Dogs have increased by 400 per cent, and this demand means some people may wait for up to four years for a guide dog.

Last year, CNIB Guide Dogs graduated 23 dogs and handlers from its program, and there are currently 40 puppies in training to become guide dogs next year.

“Support from the public allows us to train more guide dogs, but it is making it possible for the CNIB Guide Dogs team to build a state-of-the-art Indoor City at our Canine Campus in [Carleton Place] where we train dogs with the many skills they’ll need to become guide dogs,” says Ms. Brown.

The campus has curbs, sidewalks, a bus stop, stairs and faux storefronts. Indoor City will give the dogs, staff and handlers a distraction-free and temperature-controlled setting where they can train.

Learn more: cnib.ca

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