[nagdu] Guide Dog School

Tue Mar 10 16:10:31 UTC 2015

Hi,

I experienced this same situation with my previous dog.  Tara was sent out
despite the fact that she had hip dysplasia.  At first the Guide Dog
Foundation paid some of her expenses but after a while, they said they
wouldn't do it anymore.  However, their canine care department did arrange
for me to purchase Tara's daily meds from them at a much lower cost than I
could get from my vet.  , I still paid almost $100 per month for monthly
injections and laser therapy on her hips.  The only thing that saved me is
my credit card which I used to pay six years of monthly vet bills.  It will
take me years to pay off that card even though Tara retired last April.  I
am glad we are having this discussion.  It is not something the schools
discuss with students during training.  It can be a serious financial
hardship if our dogs develop health problems.  I have known people who have
gotten help from their local Lions Clubs.  Some vets will treat guide dogs
for a reduced cost or for free.  That person might try contacting the drug
company to see if there is any kind of help for the cost of their
medication.  Check with other vets in the area to see if they have any
suggestions of a lower cost medication.  Unfortunately I have found that pet
medications can be quite expensive.  Try searching the internet for pet
medication companies. One site I've used is www.petsupplies4less.com.   It
is too bad there isn't some kind of health insurance program for disabled
people with service dogs.  Medicare and other health insurance pays for
walkers and wheelchairs for physical disabilities so, why can't they pay for
guide dog expenses?  After all, the dog is helping us with our disability
just as the other medical equipment helps everyone else.     

Sandra and Eva
  ------Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marion Gwizdala
via nagdu
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2015 9:15 PM
To: 'John Sanders'; 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide
Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog School

	I must respectfully disagree with the statement that Pilot will pay
veterinarian expenses. I was contacted yesterday by an employee with a state
division of blind services who has a consumer with a Pilot dog that requires
medication that costs $140/month. It seems Pilot is refusing to help the
consumer with the expenses.

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of John Sanders via
nagdu
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2015 12:38 PM
To: Raven Tolliver; NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide
Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog School

Hi,
I'm a graduate of Pilot dogs.
Pilot dogs takes ownership of there dogs for two years before handing it
over to you.
The guide dogs are in formal guide dog training for 6 weeks.
Pilot dogs doesn't have a ceremony.
Pilot dogs will reimburse you for vet bills.
The only thing you have to do is send them a copy of  the receipt showing
that you paid for the service that the vet worked on the dog.
Pilot dogs is located in Ohio.
I just thought that I would  chime in.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
John an the always beautiful, always gorgeous  Mollie!

-----Original Message-----
From: Raven Tolliver via nagdu
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2015 12:05 PM
To: milissa61 ; NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog
Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog School

Since ownership is prime for you, some alternative programs are Pilot Dogs
in Ohio, Guide Dog Foundation in New York, and Guide Dogs of America in
California. They all grant ownership upon completion of your training, and
none of them charge you for the dog.
I attended Guiding Eyes, so I cannot testify on behalf of the above
programs. Hopefully, grads from those schools will chime in.
I suggest clicking around those programs' websites and finding out what they
offer to their students and grads. Consider what else is important to you in
a guide dog school. Below is the checklist I provide to anyone looking for
their ideal guide dog school. The answers to most of these questions can be
found on a school's website, or you can call the schools and speak with
their admissions staff.
Figure out what is important to you,.
What is the wait time between acceptance of an application and provision of
a class date?
How long do students spend training at the school?
What is the student to instructor ratio?
Where is the school located?
Are there follow-up services to your home area?
Is in-home training offered?
What is the school's ownership policy?
How long do the dogs spend in formal guide training?
What training methods are used on the dogs?
How old are the dogs when they are given to students?
What breeds are offered?
Is assistance with veterinary costs offered?
Can you return to the school for brush-up training if necessary?
Do you have a choice in contact with your dog's puppy-raisers?
Is there a graduation ceremony?

Here are the websites to the aforementioned schools.
pilotdogs.org
guidedogsofamerica.com
guidedog.org

Good luck with your search for your ideal program.
--
Raven
You are valuable because of your potential, not because of what you have or
what you do.

Naturally-reared guide dogs
https://groups.google.com/d/forum/nrguidedogs

On 3/9/15, milissa61 via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> All my dogs have been from Guiding Eyes. They are a great school and 
> the director of training is phenomenal. When you get a dog from 
> Guiding Eyes, GEB owns the dog for the first two years. After that, 
> you are able to apply for ownership provided your dog is in good 
> health. GEB is very strict about making sure their dogs are not over 
> weight. I like GEB's ownership policy because if anything goes wrong, 
> (like the dog is being abused) GEB can step in and take the dog. They 
> are not in the practice of taking people's dogs away. If something is 
> wrong, they really go out of their way to help you straighten things 
> out. But, I am glad it's an option. I've seen way to many dogs from 
> schools that give ownership right away not be able to do anything if a 
> dog is not being treated well or if the dog is overweight. Let me know 
> if you have any other questions about GEB.
>
> Just my two cents.
>
> Milissa
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Debby 
> Phillips via nagdu
> Sent: Monday, March 9, 2015 11:27 AM
> To: nimerjaber1 at gmail.com; semisweetdebby at gmail.com; nagdu at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Dog School
>
> You might want to look at Guiding EYES.  They produce some great dogs, 
> the training is very good, I'm told, (the Director of training was my 
> first instructor at Seeing Eye).  I'm not sure what their ownership 
> policy
is.
> I
> almost applied there before I got Neena, but at the last moment, I 
> just couldn't make the change.  I've been getting dogs from TSE since 
> 1981.  I have concerns too about some of the direction then are going, 
> and concerns about their ability to do good follow up.  But for me, I 
> just couldn't make the change.  Neena is a great dog, and I love how 
> she works.  We will see, in the future, if I need follow-up
> if it will happen or not.  Good luck with your search.    Peace,
> Debby with Neena
>
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