Our Mission
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs is a registered charity. Our mission is to meet the growing demand for professionally trained Guide Dogs for people who are blind/have low vision, Autism Service Dogs for children with autism, and OSI-PTSD Service Dogs for Veterans and First Responders living with operational stress injuries – at all times meeting or exceeding international standards as established by the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International.
About BC & Alberta Guide Dogs
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs breeds, raises and professionally trains Guide Dogs for individuals who are blind/have low vision, Autism Service Dogs for children with Autism, and OSI-PTSD Service Dogs for Veterans and First Responders living with operational stress injuries. It takes two years and upwards of $35,000 to produce one certified dog, provided free of charge to the recipient.
The organization was founded in 1996 as BC Guide Dog Services and began professionally training Guide Dogs for blind/low vision British Columbians, becoming a fully accredited member of the International Guide Dog Federation in 2001.
In 2002, the organization expanded into Alberta, and in 2008 launched its sister charity, Autism Service Dogs in partnership with the Victor and Anna Kern Foundation, the Vandekerkhove Family Foundation, the Diamond Foundation, and Variety–The Children’s Charity.
In 2014, the two charities amalgamated to form one organization, collectively known as BC & Alberta Guide Dogs. Alberta Guide Dogs and Autism Service Dogs are divisions of BC & Alberta Guide Dogs. BC & Alberta Guide Dogs relies on the generosity of donors to serve individuals and families living in British Columbia and Alberta.
At the beginning of 2019, Vancouver Island Compassion Dogs (VICD) officially amalgamated with BC & Alberta Guide Dogs, which strengthens the capacity of both organizations to bring more service and support dog teams to the OSI-PTSD Service Dog program.
Our Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers are dedicated to improving the availability of service of Guide Dogs, Autism Service Dogs and OSI-PTSD Service Dogs; including breeding, raising and training more dogs and continuing to give care to dogs that are currently with human partners.
