About Us
Our Mission |
Our History
|
Guide Dogs of Texas, Inc. Today |
Our Future
| Objectives
To raise, train and provide guide dogs to
Texans who are visually impaired, to enhance their mobility and
independence.
 Guide
Dogs of Texas was incorporated on February 14, 1989 and received
non-profit [(501 (c)(3)] status in June 1989.
Our residential training facility is located in San Antonio, Texas. The
first two years were devoted to creating working relationships with
local blind service organizations and developing the Puppy Raiser
Program (raising puppies from 8 weeks to 14 months of age). The second
phase consisted of raising sufficient funds to hire a professional Guide
Dog Mobility Instructor (GDMI) from one of the guide dogs schools in the
US. Until an instructor was hired, dogs graduating from our Puppy Raiser
program were donated to the Guide Dogs of America in California. Those
dogs were used to fulfill the school’s waiting list and were not
returned to Texas.
In 1997 the first GDMI was hired from the Guide Dogs for the Blind
Association, United Kingdom, and a formal guide dog training program was
initiated. Applicants were restricted to be residents from the state of
Texas, legally blind and be at least 17 years-of-age when applying.
The first guide dog, “Harley”, was placed in November of 1998 in the
Houston area. Since that time 33 more dogs have been placed with
visually impaired Texans.
Guide Dogs of Texas, Inc.
Today
At the present, we have the ability to house up
to four clients at one time in our training facility. Staff and
volunteers provide meals, housekeeping and friendly conversation to
clients during their stay. One of our goals is to provide a relaxed
atmosphere where a client can focus on their dog and the day’s training.
We have placed 34 dog/client teams in the State and are looking to place
another 8-10 teams in 2009.
We moved into our new residential training
facility the end of January 2006. Our new residential training complex
houses up to four clients, provides a state of the art guide dog
facility, provides administrative offices and houses the volunteer
program. One future goal is to hire an additional trainer, giving us the
capability to place more guide dogs in Texas communities. We also plan
to expand the number of puppies raised in our PAWSitive Approach
Program, increase our community outreach in Texas, increase the number
of clients on our waiting list and expedite training periods. For 2009
our goal is to place 10 dog/client teams and grow the organization.
1. Treat the dogs fairly.
Our dedicated staff and volunteers handle
puppies and guide dogs-in-training as unique individuals with specific
characteristics, strengths and weaknesses.
2. Client's significance in the partnership.
We respect and promote the client's role as
an equal contributor in a three-way partnership between client, guide
dog and Guide Dogs of Texas, Inc..
3. Minimize client anxiety.
In an effort to minimize client anxiety and
promote positive transitional experiences for both guide dog and
client, we have created a home-like training environment with a
relaxed, informal atmosphere.
4. Aftercare to enhance client confidence and
post-graduate outcome.
We provide a complete Aftercare Service
designed to enhance client confidence and ensure successful, long-term
graduate 'team' outcomes.
5. Respect our Volunteers.
Volunteers are a highly necessary and
integral component of our endeavor and as such, we value their
contributions of time, talents and expertise.
6. Practice humility and honorable
resource-management.
We appreciate the generosity of our donors
and practice good stewardship of the resources entrusted to us.
7. Administrative and Training staff policies.
It is the policy of Guide Dogs of Texas, Inc. to
recruit and select qualified individuals; to place them in positions
which maximize the use of their talents and encourage them to grow
into the challenges set before them.
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