Info

Southeastern Guide Dogs celebrates 25 years of giving the gift of freedom and independence to visually impaired individuals. Since 1982, we have provided more than 2,270 professionally and humanely trained guide dogs, at no charge, to visually impaired men and women throughout the United States. It takes almost two years and approximately $40,000 to prepare a successful guide dog team. Puppies are selectively bred for optimum guide dog characteristics and then placed with volunteer puppy raisers for 12 to 18 months. Under close supervision by staff members, the volunteer foster families provide basic training and socialization. Southeastern pays for veterinary medical care for each dog, while the puppy raiser covers the cost of food, toys, and flea/tick prevention. Upon returning to Southeastern, the dogs undergo a strict selection process. Professional instructors work with the future guide dogs for four to six months. The dogs learn more than 40 commands, plus intelligent disobedience. Once the dogs are fully trained, they are matched with visually impaired recipients in a 26-day training program. Besides learning to work as a team, the person and the new guide dog develop an important bond of trust, love and devotion. This mutual bond is vital to the success of any guide dog team. Once the new team leaves Southeastern's campus, instructors provide follow-up training. Our commitment to our students lasts a lifetime. Southeastern graduates are promised that they will be provided with guide dogs that meet their changing needs. Most guide dog users require three to four guide dogs during their lifetime. Southeastern has a history of accepting individuals with a secondary disability such as a hearing impairment or use of a wheelchair. Each dog is carefully selected to go into service to meet the special needs of these individuals. The Gifted Canines® program addresses dogs that do not meet the stringent requirements for guide work. These dogs go on to serve as therapy dogs, companions for people with special needs, and in arson, bomb and drug detection duties. Our Paws For Patriots program provides dogs to visually impaired and/or wounded men and women of our armed forces. Southeastern meets the highest standards of the International Guide Dog Federation and is an accredited member. We are recognized as an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Southeastern Guide Dogs receives no governmental funding. Our ability to provide guide dogs is due solely to the generosity of individuals, service organizations, foundations, bequests, corporate support and fundraising events. Many of Southeastern's Labrador retrievers are descendants of a dog named Freedom. Join us and "Harness the power of freedom".