Adopting a Career-change Guide Dog
Retirement for guide dogs does not mean living out a peaceful life in the lap of luxury. Instead, it often means leaving their working lives as a guide dog and finding a new forever home. Adopting a career-change guide dog can be a hard but rewarding experience that has the potential to bring a lot of positive changes to the life of the adoptive family.
How to Adopt a Career-change Guide Dog
The process of adopting a career-change guide dog is typically handled by not-for-profit guide dog organisations. Here are the steps involved in the adoption process:
- Do your research – research the different guide dog organisations to find one that best suits your needs.
- Contact the organisation – contact the guide dog organisation and ask to be put on their waiting list.
- Complete an application form – you will be required to fill in a form that includes information about you and your living situation.
- Undergo an assessment – an assessor from the guide dog organisation will come to your home to ensure that it is suitable for a guide dog.
- Attend an interview – the guide dog organisation will arrange for an interview to determine whether you and the dog are a good fit.
- Undergo training – once you are approved to have a career-change guide dog, you will need to undergo specialist training to learn how to handle and care for your new dog.
- Welcome your new dog into your home – once you have been accepted and trained, your new guide dog will be ready to become part of your family.
Benefits of Adopting a Career-change Guide Dog
Adopting a career-change guide dog can bring many wonderful benefits to both you and the dog.
- Companionship – the dog will work to provide unconditional love and companionship for you.
- New skills – as your new pet will already be well-trained in its working life, you can expect more of the same in companionship.
- Benefits for the dog – the dog will greatly benefit from the stability and security that your new home will bring.
Adopting a career-change guide dog can be an incredibly rewarding experience. It can bring significant positive changes to the life of both you and your new pet, and is a great way to give an animal a happy, loving home.
