There are 90 accredited schools around the world that train guide dogs for the blind, and many others that train assistance dogs for people with hearing loss or physical disability. Many, like the Seeing Eye in Morris Township, NJ, Guiding Eyes for the Blind in New York, and Canine Companions for Independence in Los Altos, CA have been closed by the coronavirus pandemic, leaving people who need to replace their service dogs or who need training, stuck in limbo. Additionally, hundreds of dogs at these schools need a place to stay during the pandemic. Learn more.
Here and Nowreporter Jon Kalish filed this report about how the Seeing Eye is dealing with the pandemic.
Many of these schools have been housing their dogs at home with staff members where some training (up to a two-year process) continues. These dogs are trained for a number of very specific tasks, and repetition and consistency is key. But just as many of us worry that our children are losing some of their skills during at home learning, the same may be happening to the class of dogs who were in the midst of their training when the stay-at-home orders were issued.
Like all businesses, these schools have had to re-think their operations and even cut back on their breeding programs so that they don't have an abundance of dogs when they are able to reopen. And for those who may have been on waiting lists for months or years to get a service dog or replace a retiring dog, this training is on hold for an indefinite period of time. Although some training can be done virtually, it is the pairing of the dog with the user and making the connection that must be done in person.
“We’re under orders, depending on what state you live in, not to do activities that are not deemed as essential. Because this is considered education, it’s not deemed essential,” said Ben Cawley, director of training at Guiding Eyes for the Blind, in a Washington Post article. Users of guide dogs certainly would argue the point of being essential. For the service dog user, this means independence - this means the ability to work - this means the ability to do the basics of living.
Seeing Eye President & CEO Glenn Hoagland shares this update on how they are proceeding. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfElwU5cW0M&t=2s
As these organizations begin to plan for reopening safely for their clients and consumers, those waiting say that the reopening can't come soon enough. Learn more about the plans from these three organizations.