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Serving the Blind Community for Over 60 Years!

Guide Dogs of America logo: An International Guiding Eyes Program: Independence, Companionship, Confidence, Freedom.

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ABOUT GDA:
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Graduations, Fundraisers, Puppy Raising Events...

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About, Requirements, Application...

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Dog Breeds, Apprentice, Trainers, Vet Services, Kennels...

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-TRAINING AND BREEDING-
Training * Apprenticeship * Breeds and Matching Process * In-For-Training * Adoption * Retiring * Veterinary * Kennels

ADOPTION

ADOPTION PROGRAM: To be a successful guide dog, many factors including health and willingness to work come into play. If a dog in our program does not meet all the proper criteria necessary to be a guide dog, they must be removed from the program.

All dogs that are removed from the program for any reason we call Career Change dogs. If a dog in our program becomes a Career Change dog, the volunteer puppy raiser is given the option to keep the animal or to give them up for adoption. Also, when a guide dog is retired, the guide dog user has the option to keep the dog or give it back to Guide Dogs of America for adoption. If the retired guide dog is returned to Guide Dogs of America, we give the dog's original volunteer puppy raiser the first option to adopt the retired guide dog. If the puppy raiser prefers not to adopt that retired guide dog, once again the dog is put up for adoption.

Currently we have such a long list of people waiting to adopt a dog (over a 6 year wait at this time) that we are no longer taking new applications to adopt a dog. You can always inquire about it in a years time.

Rescue organizations are another good option for acquiring a nice purebred pet without such a long wait. Most rescue organizations are "no-kill" and do a thorough examination of the dogs so that they are able to tell you if the dog is house broken, good with children, energetic, and other traits of that dog. Often breeders with extra dogs or families moving who cannot have a pet at their new home leave their pets with rescue organizations.

Below is some contact information to make inquiries into the adoption programs of Rescue Organizations.

GENERAL RESCUE INFO (USA):
www.rescuers.com

RESCUE LIST FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:

BEAGLES AND BUDDIES:
(626) 444-9664
Beagles and Buddies
One of the best options for adopting a dog in Southern California! They rescue Beagles, as well as other hounds and small dogs, from pounds, humane societies and off of the street. They work tirelessly to find secure, happy new homes for as many dogs as possible.

GOLDEN RETRIEVER:
(310) 679-3435
(South Bay Only) (661) 270-0570
(661) 270-3295
www.rescuers.com/barc/
www.friendsforpets.org
www.golden-rescue.com

LABRADOR:
(888) 554-2522
www.io.com/~sclrr/

GERMAN SHEPHERD:
(818) 558-7560
(619) 576-1016
www.gsrescue.org

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