FOUNDED IN 1942 by Lois Merrihew and Don Donaldson, Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) was established to address the need for service dogs as wounded servicemen returned from WWII with visual impairments. The program continued over the decades to come and is now the largest guide dog school in North America.

A yellow Labrador puppy eats kibble out of a slow feeder bowl in the foreground while a mix of six Labrador puppies play with toys and forage for kibble in a separate slow feeder bowl in the background. Their tails wag as they chow down.
Puppies work to reach kibble placed in various snuffle mats and slow feeder bowls. These enrichment tools are used to prevent ingestion issues and promote mental stimulation by encouraging the dogs to use their natural foraging instincts. (George Alfaro/Bay City News)

Instructors, volunteers and donors shape guide dogs journey to graduation

Over 16,000 guide dog teams have graduated from the organization with an alumni base spread across the United States and Canada. All of GDBs services are offered free of charge, including transportation to and from campus, ongoing support and veterinary care in addition to the personalized training that each handler receives during the guide dog team building process.

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