BC Guide Dog Services

BC & Alberta Guide dogs & Autism Support Dogs professionally train guide dogs, Autism Service Dogs and OST – PTSD service dogs for the citizens of BC and Alberta.

VICD Service Dog program is the newest division that helps people with Operational Stress injuries (OSI), including post-traumatic stress (PTSD). These very special dogs are matched with veterans and first responders and help empower them with tools to reclaim their place in the community and rebuild their lives.

BC Guide Dog Services was incorporated as a registered charity in 1996. In December 2008 they founded Autism Support Dogs and continue to work in partnership with this organization. BC Guide Dogs provides trained “seeing eye” dogs to the visually impaired for the cost of one dollar. A network of volunteers train the puppies in their homes from 7 weeks of age until they go into formal training at around 15 months of age. Other volunteers raise the parents or brood stock and help care for the litters of puppies from birth to 7 weeks of age.

Dr. Irene O’Brien has been the chief veterinarian for the guide dog program for many years. Our veterinarians at Scottsdale Veterinary Hospital provide medical expertise from vaccines and wellness exams, to genetic screening tests, x-rays for orthopaedic soundness, spay and neutering, and for all the little or big things in between, such as sore ears, vomiting and diarrhea (even guide dogs-in-training sometimes eat things they should not).

BC Guide Dog Services relies on donations from sponsors and the public to continue the important work they do. All donations go directly to BC Guide Dog Services.