Category: Animal House
I know The Seeing Eye will give you ownership of their dog when you graduate but what other schools do. and I don't mean partal I mean full ownership of the dog
According to the GDUI school survey, GDF in Smithtown, New York, GDA in California, Pilot Dogs in Columbus, Ohio, Southeastern Guide Dogs in Palmetto, Florida, Leader Dogs in Rochester Michigan (although there's a comment that says there are some "probationary contracts", so take that with a grain--or spoonful--of salt), and Guide Dogs of Texas. I thought Fidelco did, too, but there must be some stippulations in their ownership contract; I think it's food-related (you have to feed the food provided to you by the school), and possibly a few other things, too. You would have to talk to these schools individually, because while some schools offer outright ownership, their contracts are sneaky. For example, Leader reserves the right to remove dogs when the training staff deems the team unfit to work, even if the handler has taken ownership of the dog, Etc. Good question, oftentimes, people aren't concerned enough about the ownership policies of the various schools.
I am. I don't want to have some school own a dog that will be working with me. I don't want partial ownership and risk that the dog will be taken away from me over something stupid like food!
It's never been a issue or problem for me and having ownership. Seeing eye has removed a dog before that the handler owned but it was being mistreated and I hope we can all agree that is a good reason! Ownership at best has allways seemed a little like token ownership to me. I mean I know seeing eye has you pay 100 dollars or something and we are talking about dogs that there training runs in the 10's thousands of dollars. It would be like going to a lexus dealer and paying 10 dollars and saying you owned the car that was subsidized by others. If it makes your ego feel better go for it I guess!
I don't know what do you mean exactly by ownership. Dog is not like a house or a car you buy. It has feelings and especially guide dogs are there to help. So they should be treated well. So the school should have something to say if the dog is not treated correctly. As long as you treat the dog well you don't have anything to worry about.
No one's saying that dogs don't have feelings, particularly their guide dogs. I think the concern is that the school could potentially remove the dog from you for various reasons depending on their ownership policy. For example, as stated in previous posts, The Seeing Eye gives you full ownership of the dog once you and your dog leave training. That is, in majority cases, they won't involve themselves in taking the dog away from you. If there are reports of abuse or mistreatment, it is up to the local animal control to remove the dog if they find that the reports are valid. At least this is my understanding of it. I can't say for other schools because I don't know anything about their policies. You wouldn't want a school coming in and saying, "This dog looks overweight. It's not a good working relationship, and since we still have partial ownership of the dog, we'll just take him/her back now." That's a poor example, but I hope it illustrates my point.
Not a poor example at all. There's a school that instituted its ownership policy specifically for the example you provided. (I wish I was kidding.)
Ownership is a touchy subject. Some people don't care about it at all, while it's the deciding factor in which school to attend for some people. A lot of people don't like the big-brother-is-watching attitudes that a lot of the guide dog schools have. I don't think it's an issue of the dogs having or not having feelings at all.
Ownership is definatly a touchy subject. I got my dog from GDA. In the end though, it is up to you what you do. I personally don't like the idea of parshal ownership, but that's just me. I feel that if you have a guide dog, then you should be in total control of it's needs. I'd feel a little uncomfortable knowing that the dog was parshally mine. I'd feel like I was just borrowing it.
Totally agree with you, which is why I chose the school I chose (seeing eye). I mean, there were other deciding factors (breeds used, proximity to where I live/go to school, training techniques, Etc.), but the ownership policy was a huge factor in my decision.
gdb also gives you ownership after you've had your dog for a year, if you request it. none of your rights as a student, like vet care and all that change, either...I like that. when Goldina and I have been together for a year, I definitely plan to get full ownership. it's not a big deal to some people, but like others have stated...I'd feel better knowing she was completely mine.
Right, but the original poster was asking about schools with immediate and unconditional ownership. GDB doesn't give ownership until after a year, and then there are mandatory follow-up visits after the dog turns 8 so the school can check in and inform the handler about retirement, even if the dog's nowhere near ready for retirement yet.
exactally. so the only school that gives immediate ownership is the seeing eye., glad I was planning on reapplying there in January to get back into the may class and this time hopefully won't get kicked out. Although that is besides the point
Well, no. GDF and GDA (which are both good schools) give unconditional ownership. But there are other factors to consider. For example, GDF has "celebration day" which is like a graduation, and you also meet your dog's puppy raisers. GDA has something similar. TSE (as you know) has no graduation and no puppy raiser contact. So, things like that are things to consider. GDA also feeds their dogs human-grade food (Canidae) while GDF and TSE feed "premium" foods that contain sub-quality meat. (Most people don't care about stuff like that, but it's a pet -- ha ha, no pun intended -- issue of mine.)
How do you go about getting full ownership of a GdB dog?
You have to wait until one year after graduation. If something happens to the dog between the time you graduate and one year thereafter, you have to give him or her back. Look at Steven ...
Having not attended GDB, I can't give a full answer to your question. But I imagine that there's a contract you sign upon graduation (I would ask to have every section of it read to you, or have it provided in a format that you can read...). That contract explains what the ownership process is, what happens to the dog before the 12-month period is up, what happens when retirement age is reached, Etc.
Cool. thanks guys!
TSE gives you full ownership on graduation, and yes they do have a graduation. No they do not have puppy raiser contact, but they do have a graduation. I'm not going to go back this year, I'll try again next year. that was my choice. I didn't reapply and am going to wait.
Uh... unless things have changed ridiculously since I've been there (and since a good friend was there in january), there is no graduation at TSE. There's a party the night before you leave, but it's among students and whoever's on duty that night.
If you go to GEB, you have to wait two years, before you can apply for ownership. I didn't think about it, when I applied to this school and it makes me sad, but I can't do anything about it now.
I still have another year to go...
When you retire your dog after that point, it will not be taken away from you. You can choose to keep him/her as a pet, give to a family member, give to the puppy raiser if they want the dog back, or give to someone on an adoption waiting list.