Please read and acknowledge the following statements

Raising a puppy is a 13-16 month commitment for the entire family.

Optional for puppy sitter applicants

We require that prospective raisers assist current raisers by puppy sitting and/or taking puppies to club meetings or activities when the current raiser needs assistance.

Puppy raisers and puppy sitters are expected to attend club meetings and activities on a regular basis. These meetings and activities are beneficial for your education as well as the puppy’s development.

For prospective puppy raisers, it is imperative that you attend as many club meetings and activities as possible in order to be fully oriented once you receive a puppy to raise. The waiting period for a puppy can be several months. Once you receive a puppy, it is expected that you will continue to attend club meetings and activities on a regular basis for the development of the puppy.

For puppy sitters, it is expected that you will attend as many club meetings and activities as possible for the first 4 months. After that, you may attend once a quarter, although you are always welcome.

Puppies need to be brought to vet appointments, club meetings, and activities.

Puppies require daily care, as well as time devoted teaching them good house manners, appropriate public behavior, walking on leash, and basic obedience commands.

Growing puppies require at least 20 minutes of walking or vigorous play at least twice a day.

Young puppies often need to be carried and held in arms until they receive all of their vaccines.

Our puppies can reach 50 – 80 lbs. Although they can be large and strong, they are still puppies and can be excitable; our puppies are encouraged to pull for future guide work. Our puppies must be confident walking and going up and down stairs on leash at a steady pace.

If you have any concerns about these expectations, please speak to your Area Coordinator!

The Seeing Eye Puppy Raiser Promise

I understand that the guidelines stated here pertain to both puppy raisers and puppy sitters.

I promise to care for the puppy I am raising according to the guidelines, policies and procedures as set forth in the Seeing Eye Puppy Raiser Manual.

I understand the puppy I am raising is the property of The Seeing Eye until it is matched with a blind person, who then becomes the actual owner.

I promise to make sure the puppy is current on all vaccinations and that all medical information is communicated to The Seeing Eye for its records. I understand that the puppy should be listed with The Seeing Eye as the official owner. The Seeing Eye agrees to pay for all authorized medical expenses.

I promise to keep the puppy I am raising on lead at all times when outside. If the puppy is in an enclosed area, I will be there to supervise him. I understand that, while in my care, the puppy should wear his official Seeing Eye Puppy tag at all times outside my house.

I understand the puppies in The Seeing Eye program do not have legal access to public buildings or certain other places which permit guide dogs.

I understand that I will be given an Identification Card, which should be used to gain special permission to enter a public building. If any business or other place does not give permission, I will say “thank you” and try somewhere else. I also understand that we are not encouraged to take the puppies to food stores and restaurants.

I understand that attending The Seeing Eye puppy raising meetings is important for me and for the puppy I am raising. I promise to make a strong commitment to attend as many as possible. If I cannot attend, I will make arrangements for the puppy to attend. I will work hard at giving the puppy the proper exposure (public locations, traffic and general household noise) that he or she needs to become a guide dog.

I understand that a representative of The Seeing Eye will visit periodically to see how the puppy is progressing and to give assistance. I will contact my area coordinator if I need assistance in any way.

I promise to provide The Seeing Eye with its requested reports in a timely manner.

I understand that The Seeing Eye has a long-standing relationship with the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International. If the puppy I am raising is not likely to become able to serve one of the students, The Seeing Eye may try to place the dog with a program that serves people who are disabled.

I understand that I will not be liable for the loss of any puppy assigned to me through illness or accident. The Seeing Eye and its staff and agents will not be responsible for any claim or liability which may result from my failure to follow the guidelines, policies and procedures as set forth in The Seeing Eye Puppy Raiser Manual. I also understand that the liability coverage mentioned above covers both puppy raisers and puppy sitters.

I understand that if I do not take proper care of the puppy as detailed in the Puppy Raising Manual, The Seeing Eye has the right to remove the puppy from my home.

I understand that once the puppy is placed with a blind individual, I will receive my final communication regarding the dog.

I will respect the privacy of the dog’s new owner and not try to contact him or her.

I understand that when the time comes for the puppy to return to The Seeing Eye, it will be difficult to let him go. However, I realize I must return him to The Seeing Eye for his formalized training, as it is his destiny to become a Seeing Eye dog.

I understand that I am not to post anything negative on social media about the puppy I am raising or anything that goes against the rules of The Seeing Eye.

I will adhere to all the guidelines, policies and procedures of The Seeing Eye regarding the Puppy Raising Program, including the Puppy Raising Manual. I will also adhere to this Promise.

Please fill out completely

FOR PARENT/GUARDIAN:

I agree to accompany and supervise my child/children to all meetings and club activities. If I am not able to do so, I will have a responsible adult accompany and supervise my child/children and give written permission for such.

I have read and agree to abide by the above Puppy Raiser Promise and will instruct my child/children to abide by The Seeing Eye Puppy Raiser Promise at all times.

PHOTO DISCLAIMER: I understand that my photo or my child’s photo may be used for publicity purposes relating to the Puppy Raising Program.

Personal References

Please list two non-relative references. If the references do not reply in a timely manner, your application process may be delayed. Please note that email addresses are for the sole purpose of speeding up the application process and will not be sold or sent spam.