"Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light." – Helen Keller
Exploring the option to enhance your mobility with a guide dog? Eye of the Pacific Guide Dogs Foundation believes that a successful guide dog team depends largely on the handler's continued commitment to maintain the dog's professional discipline, manage the dog's health care and apply the technical skills learned in training.
We invite you to explore your option with us as it will be our pleasure to provide you with the best match for your mobility needs. You are encouraged to explore the services provided by other guide dog centers and find the one that you feel most comfortable with.
How we are unique:
- • Our guide dog teams are individually trained
- • Our applicants travel to a foreign country to train. The opportunity to train in a totally different environment further enhances the handler's independence in travel.
- • The guide dog team returns home with the guide dog mobility instructor for a final week of domiciliary training. This feature of the training program focuses on establishing several daily routes to allow the team to concentrate on their working relationship.
- • Our graduates receive two (2) after care training visits a year throughout the guide dog's career. Handlers address concerns and re-enforced training with guide dog mobility instructors during these valuable visits.
Elegibility Requirements
• Individual must be legally blind, a resident of the State of Hawaii or neighboring U.S. Territories and between the ages of 18 and 70
• Demonstrate financial capability to care for the guide dog
• Must be capable of walking 1 to 2 miles a day and able to receive and implement instructions
• Must be able to independently travel to seven destinations
• Must provide a clean living and working environment conducive to safe and effective use and care of the guide dog
• Must have not more than one pet in the household and demonstrate that the pet’s behavior will not interfere with the guide dogs trained behavior and work skills
• Demonstrate necessary maturity and temperament to handle the responsibilities of caring for and working with a guide dog
Guide Dog Training Program
A guide dog offers a dynamic form of independent mobility, safely guiding their handler wherever they need to go.
In addition to the eligibility requirements, approved individuals commit to pay a program fee of $200.00 for their first dog and $100.00 for each successor dog.
Having self-pride in being able to travel safely and effectively with one of our dogs continues to be the best reward for our guide dog teams. This is why our handlers also commit to volunteering as speakers for the Foundation – their special way of expressing their pride by sharing their relationship!
What to expect:
Application process: Involves telephone interviews, application forms, medical reports, instructor assessments and program written test.
Waiting for the best match: The wait time may take anywhere from 3 months to a year or sometimes longer. Great care and determination to match our individuals with the dog that will compliment the handler’s personality and meet mobility need is our goal and we do this through the combined efforts of our guide dog centers and the individual.
The training: Once the best match is made, the individual’s training program is organized. Individuals must have a valid passport and should expect to travel alone and return after 3 weeks with the dog and mobility instructor. The guide dog team graduates after successfully completing 4 weeks of training.
Graduate Services
Upon successful graduation under our Guide Dog Training Program, graduates may receive technical support and financial assistance with some veterinary services throughout the guide dog’s career.
After Care Follow Up Services
At least once a year, a guide dog mobility instructor will visit the guide dog team to provide technical support at no cost to our graduates. During these visits, the team may receive assistance in establishing new routes, addressing behavioral concerns, traffic re-enforcement and a whole lot more.
Veterinary Care Services
While it is the sole financial responsibility of the handler to provide veterinary care for the guide dog, assistance may be provided for guide dogs that are treated for conditions outside of the normal wellness care.
Annual Guide Dog Teams Workshop
Guide dog teams come together to learn different things that may help maintain the team’s successful partnership. Our handler’s have learned first aid and CPR for their dogs, T-Touch exercises, policy and procedures involved in traveling with a guide dog, understand their rights under the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA), state laws relating to service animals, Fair Housing Act and the handler’s responsibilities. Our handlers also benefit from sharing experiences with fellow handlers and learn different approaches to deal with a variety of everyday challenges.
