[nagdu] Cost of a service dog

[Cindy Ray]

I think the non-fee for blind people has to do with low expectations of the blind, or none. I also suspect that other facilities rely on the thought that people will manage to raise funds for their dogs by donations from philanthropic groups. It does seem strange to me though that guide dog schools approach with no or low fees. Of course TSE instituted it as a small way of showing respect for blind people. If I had to pay that kind of fee that some have to, I would not owner train. I would not use a dog. I would hazard a guess that at the end of the day after you had trained your pup you would have put in a high amount of money anyway. Of course, there is the level of satisfaction.

CL

On Aug 27, 2013, at 9:49 AM, "Tracy Carcione" <carcione at access.net> wrote:

> Marion's recent question about the cost of a service dog got me thinking. 
> It's my impression that many non-guide service dog training centers charge
> a lot to their clients, like thousands of dollars.  When TSE started out,
> they charged a fee that was substantial at the time, but now is less than
> I've spent taking guests out to a nice dinner.  The norm among guide dog
> schools is to charge nothing, or a nominal fee, so much so that I hear
> people complain about TSE's fee.
> I wonder why other service dog training centers charge so much, while
> those for guide dogs charge so little?  My first guess Is it's because the
> guide dog schools are well-established charities, with sufficient
> donations.  Or is it possible that blind people expect to get things free,
> and other disabled people don't?
> The cost certainly explains the relative numbers of owner-trainers.  If I
> had to raise thousands every time I needed a new dog, it would make
> owner-training a very attractive alternative.
> Anyway, just wondering, and not complaining.
> Tracy
> 
> 
> 
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