CNIB Guide Dog Campaign

We urgently need your support.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has clarified and sharpened our understanding of the need for CNIB to accelerate the development of a sustainable, full-service guide dog program for Canadians who are blind or partially sighted.

Our guide dogs require two years of intensive training and investment. It involves special techniques for raising puppies, training for all situations faced in the life of a handler, and screening for temperament and health. CNIB covers all costs from puppyhood to retirement, at no cost to the individual, at $50,000 per guide dog. By raising funds and rallying support for the CNIB Guide Dog program, you directly contribute to the training, care, and placement of these exceptional guide dogs. Your contributions enable the program to match these specially trained dogs with individuals who are blind or with low vision, fostering a partnership that transcends the limitations of vision loss.

We are at a critical point – representing both an opportunity and a challenge – to respond to an urgent need for guide dogs in Canada, both in the short- and long-term.

We will address this challenge with a campaign over the next three years, designed to significantly expand the CNIB Guide Dogs program. The overall fundraising goal for the campaign is $25 million, including three focus areas plus 10% contingency fund.

Focus Area 1: Urgent Need of 150 Dogs
From March to November 2020, the demand for CNIB guide dogs has grew by more than 375%. We continue to receive 30-50 applications per month. To meet this urgent demand, our goal is to raise, train, and graduate 150 guide dogs by 2024.

Focus Area 2: Canine Campus
We aim to renovate and build additional pods, training areas, and veterinarian resources to train and graduate 150 dogs each year to meet the demand of guide dogs in Canada.

Focus Area 3: Breeding Program and Facilities
To secure the sustainability and quality of guide dogs available, we need to breed best-in-class guide dogs right here in Canada. Our goal is to establish a breeding program and facilities to make that goal a reality.

Our guide dogs require two years of intensive training and investment. It involves special techniques for raising puppies, training for all situations faced in the life of a handler, and screening for temperament and health. CNIB covers all costs from puppyhood to retirement, at no cost to the individual, at $50,000 per guide dog.

People with sight loss often say having a guide dog is a transformational experience. Being part of a guide dog team provides mobility, safety and confidence, leading to increased independence and a sense of connection with the world. We believe everyone who would like to have a guide dog should have that opportunity. At CNIB Guide Dogs, we raise, train and match dogs with Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. We also raise our voices to ensure people with sight loss have opportunities to live, work and play without barriers. We’re committed to ensuring social attitudes shift to universal acceptance and appreciation for guide dogs. To help transform our communities into beacons of accessibility and inclusion, our dogs have three career options:

Guide Dog - A guide dog is partnered with a youth or adult with sight loss. Whether it’s avoiding obstacles, stopping at curbs and steps or negotiating traffic, this dog fosters independence. The harness and handle facilitates communication between the dog and the person who is blind. In this partnership, the person provides directional commands and the dog ensures the team’s safety – if necessary, the dog disobeys unsafe commands.

Buddy Dog - A buddy dog is partnered with a child who is living with sight loss. Whether it’s feeding, grooming or walking this well-trained family pet, this will give the child an opportunity to care for a dog and in some cases, help make it easier to transition into a guide dog partnership in the future.

Ambassador Dog - An ambassador dog is partnered with a staff member to promote CNIB Guide Dogs at community events and raise awareness about the role of guide dogs. Whether it’s introducing someone to the benefits of guide dogs, recruiting volunteer puppy raisers for puppies-in-training or connecting with individuals who may be interested in sponsoring the program, this dog is an important member of the marketing team.

Support the Future of Guide Dogs in Canada:

We are motivated and driven by the hard-work of those who share a common goal: supporting Canadians who are blind or partially sighted and need a guide dog – at no cost to the individual. We need each other now, more than ever. Please take action - make your gift today. Thank You.

cnib.ca/gdurgent • 1-800-563-2642