Recently, I donated to Guide Dogs of Texas in honor of a young man who had died. It has been awhile since I did. I have not received a thank you from Guide Dogs. It's a simple thing to do - just have cards printed saying, "Thank you for your donation. We appreciate it" or something similar. Sign it and mail it.
I started out as a donor. Then I Puppy Sat for a weekend or two. Then I started raising puppies. Now I do all that plus I am on the Board of Directors. Being part of such a beautiful and noble nonprofit just draws you in.
I am raising Freddie (in the photos). Freddie, and being part of Guide Dogs of Texas (GDTX), is just a daily dose of love and joy. GDTX raises amazing (and well-loved) dogs and provides guided site for blind Texans.
I Love This Organization.
Our experience being a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs of Texas has been nothing short of an amazing experience. We started on our journey with our first pup, Mark, when he was 8-weeks old and had him until he was 2.5 years old, much longer than normal due to the pandemic. He was a joy to work with and many tears were shed when he returned to campus for Advanced Training, but we knew he was destined for great things. We received our second GDIT, Nemo, when he was about 1.5 years old, just a few days after Mark left us. I'm sure there will be many tears shed when he moves on from us, but to know that he is helping someone gain some independence and help them navigate the world by themselves is totally worth it. (Photos: Mark in wildflowers and Nemo at a local park.)
GDTX is a life changing organization. I have actively volunteered for over 10 years. To see a pup from birth through training become a working dog for a client is quite a journey. It involves many people. Lots of volunteers (there are many opportunities) and very dedicated staff continue to amaze me. Each person who receives a dog and each dog are tenderly encouraged and matched. It is an honor to work with this group!
As a retiree, I made the decision to raise a Seeing Eye Dog. Doing a search on the Internet, I was able to locate Guide Dogs of Texas in San Antonio. After qualifying as a Puppy Raiser, I had the pleasure of being given Paisley to raise.
Paisley has rewarded me and taught me as much as I have done for her. She has a way of winning your heart for she is all giving.
People ask me, "Will I miss her when I have to pass her on?" and I can only reply, "Of course." at the same time knowing that she will move on to do her duty with a very special person.
GDTX has been a great charitable association to be involved with. The people are extra special, friendly and devoted. Martha, my supervisor, is always there for me and her love of puppies is extraordinary.
Thank you Guide Dogs of Texas for this exceptional and joyous experience in my retirement.
Kenneth Palmer
I became a puppy raiser just about a year ago and it has been the most enjoyable thing ever. Since I was very young I have always had a love for dogs and they have been a part of my life since infancy. Later when I learned of guide dogs/service dogs it has always been something I wanted to do but with being a military family and moving I was not able to until we landed in Texas. GDTX is everything I expected they would be, helpful when I have questions and always there for me. I have encouraged several co-workers to become volunteers...puppy raisers or puppy sitters for when the raisers need to go out of town. I have to admit it is going to be hard to see him graduate but, also very rewarding knowing he is going to be an amazing companion.
Volunteering with GDTX is one of the most rewarding experiences my family has been involved with! To see the puppies grow into dependable, loving companions for clients is nothing short of amazing. We are so thankful to be part of an organization that adds so much value for clients and everyone else involved.
Watching this organization work together as a well oiled machine is fantastic - especially this past year or so with the pandemic. The staff worked creatively to still accomplish the goals of quality training for our puppies in training. Martha worked tirelessly making sure all the puppy raisers had their needs met. The service to the community is heartwarming when you see how the Puppies turned Guide Dogs change the lives of blind Texas partners.
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I feel forever blessed to be a part of the Guide Dog Community. I started with my first dog to do something for someone else but found I have been truly blessed by this program as well. Here is my accounting of one of the 9 puppies that we have raised to be service dogs.
Foster Parenting Guide Dog Puppies
It is a noble calling that we have answered – rewarding, fun, exasperating, heart wrenching. Eighteen months ago my family, along with nine other families, each picked up an eight week old furry bundle of puppy breath. Our first mission was to just give lots of love and potty training. The loving continued forever while the potty training, hopefully, took no more than two to four weeks. Then, for the remaining sixteen to eighteen months, we were to teach good house manners and take her out into the world and teach her how to behave in every possible public and home setting.
Most of the puppies are raised in a family atmosphere but one person in the family generally takes on the role of the primary caretaker. In our family, as in most, it was me, the mom. Our maternal instincts are strong but we know that we are only foster parents and will, in eighteen months or so, go through the emotional ordeal of giving this furry bundle back to the Guide Dog Facility.
I reminded myself everyday to not get too attached. Cheyenne gave me a moist kiss. I reminded myself to keep a distance with my emotions. She nuzzled my hand to be petted. I told others about the program, reminding myself of the inevitable. She behaved perfectly in the presence of the stranger and looked up for approval with a sparkle in her eyes. I smiled and shook my head knowing that I was losing the battle with emotional distancing. Despite all the efforts and intentions, and given the fact that I just couldn’t deny my maternal instincts, that bundle of joy crept into my heart and she endured herself to me forever.
Each month at our training classes I noticed that all the other puppy raisers had lost the battle with emotional distancing as well. I took that as a sign of good hearts, not suckers! We all found it was impossible to spend every day with our foster pups and not get emotionally attached.
As we were instructed, and as I chose with pleasure, Cheyenne accompanied me everywhere and was with me in every aspect of my life. She went with me to the bank, grocery store, movies, hairdresser, bowling alley, doctor, dentist and church. Most of our social outings became dog related providing new experiences for Cheyenne like riding on an airplane, a boat, the train, rides at Disneyland, day trips to the local snowcapped mountains and rides on the city bus. I’d never ridden a city bus before and had to figure out the system so she could get some bus experience. Overall, I’m sure that I spent more time in the company of Cheyenne than with my daughter or my husband. I recognized my inability to detach emotionally and accepted the risks of eventual separation anyway.
We were advised of our turn in date and each puppy raising family approached that timeframe with guarded emotions. We told family, friends and others around us when she would be leaving us. Each time we gave the news we were preparing ourselves for that moment. The more we repeated the news the more prepared we got. The last timeframe was crucial to allow the reality of what was coming to be acceptable. Some of us spent more time hugging our pup (who by then was an adult but will always be a puppy to us). Some of us seemed to be distancing ourselves in preparation of the detachment. Some suddenly realized all the bad habits that still hadn’t been corrected and tried to cram in a course of Puppy Behavior 101. I spent a lot of time on the floor cuddling. Regardless of our method, we all went through a period of preparation.
It wasn’t until we neared the turn in date that I became aware of the attachment to those around us - the grocery clerk who reminded me to bring Cheyenne in for one last visit; the minister who prepared a commissioning service; the church members who, with a tear, brought their children for one last caress and then tried to explain why they wouldn’t see Cheyenne at church anymore; the bowlers who brought a farewell cake on Cheyenne’s last night at bowling; the neighbors who had a going away party to tell us, “I couldn’t do it, you’re a saint.”
The day finally arrived. I was sending Cheyenne off to boarding school. We were told we didn’t need to bring anything for our puppy. But, I gathered shot records and wrote notes about how her ears need to be cleaned often and how she loves to be scratched vigorously. I bagged up the leftover food and brought it along “just in case”. I packed her favorite squirrel squeaky toy that was missing one ear and a box of her favorite Paul Newman heart shaped treats.
My husband held my hand and I wrapped my arm around my daughter as we arrived at a luncheon. We were thankful to be with so many others who were going through the same gambit of emotions. We asked our anxious questions of the trainers and looked for assurance that they would treat our puppy well. And then we took the longest walk of our puppy-raising career.
Arriving at the kennel run designated for Cheyenne and her kennel mate, Coco, we said a tearful goodbye and walked away. I glanced back to see them romping and playing, paying no attention to the fact that we were leaving. That made me cry even more – with relief that it appeared she was going to be OK and with sadness for missing her already. My husband put one arm around me and hugged our daughter with the other. Some puppy raisers walked away in silence, some found comfort in consoling each other and all of us felt a heartache that cannot be described.
Now why, you ask, would anyone willingly put themselves through this emotional turmoil? All I can say is to invite you to come to a graduation some time and see for yourself. I’ve heard more than one graduate express joy at the new life and independence that our puppies, turned Guide Dogs, bring to them. And our reach extends beyond the blind recipient. In my puppy raising career I met a mother at the car wash who, having recently learned that her baby was blind, thanked me for the future we offered her child. There was an eight year old boy at Knott’s Berry Farm who reached out to pet and told me that he couldn’t wait for the day when he would be old enough to get his own Guide Dog. And there was the man at the airport who was losing this sight. He was scared and fearful about using a Guide Dog so we sat with him in the airport and answered his questions. We instilled a lot of peace and understanding for him that day.
In six to eight months I will return to the Guide Dog campus for Cheyenne’s graduation and to meet her blind partner. From previous experience I know that at the ceremony there will not be a dry eye as the blind recipient tells how Cheyenne will change her life. It is at that point that my broken heart will be healed and I will truly understand the meaning of, “it is better to give than to receive.” In the meantime, I am on my way back to the Guide Dog Facility to gather up some more puppy breath and start all over again.
Sherry Miller themillertribe@hotmail.com
It's an honor to be part of Guide Dogs of Texas. Seeing these puppy grow and develop to become guide dogs is a incredible experience. This puppies no only provide freedom and mobility to someone who is visually impaired but they also are changing lives all around them.
As a former nonprofit management professional, my involvement with the Guide Dogs of Texas puppy raiser program has been by far one of my most rewarding nonprofit experiences. To be able to participate "hands on" in a program and help work towards a successful outcome has been extremely fulfilling. My husband and I began working with Guide Dogs of Texas in August of 2020 when we took Orwell in to raise and train as a guide dog. We have experienced careful and diligence guidance from the program manager (Martha Manchaca, aka as the dog whisperer) and know that her expertise helps drive the program towards success. Orwell has made a difference in our lives and we and Orwell will in turn make a difference in another life.
I am a volunteer as a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs of Texas. The organization is dedicated to the happy/healthy raising of their puppies They do a great job of guiding me on puppy raising. This choice to be a puppy raiser has been one of the best decisions!
I am a 4th gen professional chef. When a cousin of mine finished his chef apprenticeship in Europe upon returning home in the states he turned completed blind within a year. Our hopes and dreams of opening a restaurant together were totally dashed in his mind. He spent close to a decade in his apartment, refusing to go out in the real world. My family helped him get a guide dog. The change in my cousin's life was immediate and as dramatic as night and day. During the Covidlockdown my wife and I were aware of so many people having a hard time. We've been blessed with having not an easy life but a good one so we wanted to give back. My wife had managed non-profits and I was a City Manager, so we knew what to look for and where to look for good legitimate organizations. My cousin's experience led us to research guide dog organizations. After researching Guide Dogs of Texas, we knew that was who we wanted to contribute our time and money to. We have been nothing but delighted and overwhelmed by the dedication of the staff and the outcomes of their efforts. Guide Dogs of Texas unquestionably lives and practices their mission and their resulting guide dogs of the blind are a model for all. We know this to be true up front and personal as foster/trainers.
I've been with the organization almost from the start, twenty years. I've seen it grow and provide much needed capability to the visually impaired in Texas. I am a volunteer puppy raiser and have been training dogs the whole time. I'm currently on my fifteenth dog. It's a great organization with s truly caring staff.
I am a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs of Texas. We are given an eight week old puppy, bringing them into our home, our life and begin molding them for a life of service. We lay the groundwork for these pups to become the successful guide dogs they are born to be. I love volunteering for Guide Dogs of Texas, it is a most satisfying experience.
I am honored to have our second puppy, Olivia in our home. The photo is Olivia on her first birthday, celebrating at Woofgang Bakery with a special biscuit.
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We have been most impressed with Guide Dogs of Texas. Having volunteered in many different organizations, GDOT stands alone in every way. We are first time puppy raisers, having received Merlin at nine weeks. They have been interactive and provide suggestions, veterinary care and other needs as we go along this wonderful journey. I meet with the early canine coordinator once a month. Merlin is 4 1/2 months old, we are excited to watch this wonderful puppy grow into a fine adult and transition into Advanced Training to become someone’s guide dog.
This organization is top notch. The amazing work they do with theses beautiful pups. I volunteered with this organization for years and throughly enjoyed every minute. I was on the Board of Directors also. They value every donation. Can’t say enough about how great this non profit is!!
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I was previously on the Board of Directors with this non profit. This organization is outstanding! They truly care about their guide dogs and their clients. They raise these beautiful animals to be the sight for individuals that are sight impaired or blind. They work closely with their clients. They are very responsible in handling their funds. I continue to donate to this non profit because I can see how my donation is spent. They are fantastic. A true asset to the community that they serve.
I’m a volunteer with Guide Dogs of Texas. They are a great organization with excellent trainers who love the dogs & what they do. The support they provide to the dog/handler teams is unparalleled!! If you haven’t toured their facility I recommend it! I dog sit when a puppy raiser goes out of town. I enjoy getting to bring the dogs with me in their vest to raise awareness for guide dogs & service dogs in general. My dog loves having a buddy visit!
Guide Dogs of Texas is an amazing organization that provides trained guide dogs to visually impaired Texans. Each dog is carefully matched to its owner and trained at the client's location. Guide Dogs of Texas commits to continuing to serve the client throughout the life of the dog. They also commit to finding a home for each dog in retirement. All this is provided for the price of $1 to the client.
Passionate advocates for the mission of training these incredible dogs to give a visually impaired person an enriched guided sight partner. True professionals who go above and beyond.
I joined the Board of Guide Dogs of Texas because of the wonderful work that they do. Guide Dogs is also one of the best run nonprofits I have worked with. The dog in the photo is Bombadil, a guide dog trainee that we boarded at our home. Spending time with him helped me understand the magic of these amazing dogs, and the skill and true dedication of the Guide Dogs of Texas staff who train them.
Our family has the pleasure of volunteering with Guide Dogs of Texas and have been so fortunate to come across such a passionate, caring team that looks out for each and every dog they raise to become someone’s companion for site and independent success. The staff and team put so much heart in all they do and we are so grateful we get to know many of the guide dogs in the training program and watch them excel and thrive in their program and years of training. Grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful organization! The dogs love is just the best!
GDTX is an awesome organization to volunteer for. My neighbor was a volunteer for them and during their time they were supported beyond belief.
A life-changing organization that provides equity to those disabled by vision loss by providing guided sight. Guide Dogs of Texas provides ongoing care and community for the people that they serve.
The dedication of the people involved with Guide Dogs of Texas is absolutely amazing. Their dogs are given extreme care and love and training from birth to newborn care to puppy raising to advanced guide dog training, all aimed at eventually allowing a visually impaired person to have more independence. Over the years that I've done volunteer office work and listened to the professionals and volunteer dog raisers, my admiration for their dedication has grown and grown.
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Since I started volunteering at Guide Dogs of Texas I've been simple amazed at the dedication to and love of these dogs and the concern for their clients that is shown by all the employees and volunteers here. They work tirelessly to provide well-trained dogs, keep in close, friendly touch with their clients, and raise funds to enable them to serve as many people as possible in the most effective way.
Guide Dogs of Texas not only helps the individuals who are ultimately paired with a guide dog, they also help the volunteers working with them become more knowledgeable advocates for equity and access.
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After watching a friend begin in the puppy-raising program we decided to offer our time to the next litter of future guide dogs. The whole process has been incredibly rewarding. From puppy-sitting to puppy socialization everyone has been incredibly helpful and supportive. The process has been so enjoyable I am even recruiting my friends as volunteers.
Guide Dogs of Texas takes care of Texans!!! I cannot think of a more deserving organization that so responsibly uses funds and welcomes volunteers to assist in a full spectrum activities.
Guide Dogs of Texas is an awesome organization! I worked as a Breeding Program Assistant for the "J" litter and the staff and volunteers were dedicated to the organization's mission. It was a great place to work. It was obvious that staff and volunteers truly enjoyed what they did and were passionate about it. They recognized that it wasn't just about caring for the pups, but also about improving the lives of people who are visually impaired. Everyone embodied the organization's values of compassion, honesty, respect, support, encouragement and team spirit. I'm glad to have been a part of this inspiring organization.
Guide Dogs of Texas is an AWESOME Nonprofit. I donated through United Way while I was a Special Education Assistant. After retirement, I still support Guide Dog of Texas.
I have worked with students with vision challenges. Pretty amazing to donate to a nonprofit that changes the lives of folks. The ones who usually need personal assistance, to be independent with a seeing eye dog. Us humans, we really like the freedom to go where and when we want to.
Thank you for reading my review on GUIDE DOGS OF TEXAS.
I was an independent individual until the age of 44. Life as a type 1 diabetic left my eye sight shattered. I more and more sheltered at home. Only going outside when I had someone to help. I found Guide Dogs of Texas. I found my independence again and at the age of 52 graduated from college. I would never have the opportunities that I now have without the help of my heros. Guide Dogs of Texas.
They have changed my life as well as my families lives. I am continually grateful for them. The dogs are brilliant and they are great to their clients.
My wife and I volunteer for Guide Dogs of Texas because of the important work they perform. There can be no better motivation than knowing because of their work that someone can be an independent productive human being. We give of our time and our resources to an organization that is well run and productive.
Have had the honor of being able to work with this organization as a co-puppy raiser with my daughter. The impact that a guide dog has on its client is difficult to appreciate.
Guide Dogs of Texas is a small guide dogs for the blind training school with a BIG heart! The staff, volunteers, and board members are dedicated to the organizations mission of providing sight to visually impaired Texans. The trainers are instrumental in helping the client's transition from cane to guide dog and continue to support the team long after they are paired!
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My daughter is a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs of Texas because she believes in helping the visually impaired regain independence and freedom through guided site. The guide dog is more than a pair of eyes they are a reliable companion and support for the person they assist. The staff at GDTX works with each team individually and continues to support them long after they are matched. The work they do is life changing for those they help and those that get to be a part of the process!
This organization's total purpose is to exquisitely raise and train guide dogs for blind people. They are great at this and after these wonderful dogs serve their duty, GDOT finds loving homes for the dogs' later years. We have been fortunate to provide a post work life for two of these dogs who were terrific. Training takes two years and is very intensive and the dogs serve for nine to eleven years depending on health. GDOT is available to anyone needing their help. A great service and charity!
There is no better non-profit organization doing so much for the blind and visually impaired. How do you quantify the training of super pups to adulthood and also the candidate who receives the fully trained guide dog? The cost to the candidate...$1. And that candidate has FREEDOM! That's the cost!
Guide Dogs of Texas is one of the best non-profits I have had the pleasure of learning about. The amazing staff and Q are unmatched in San Antonio. I have always felt supported as a volunteer and able to positively impact San Antonio by donating my time and talent to GDTX
Guide Dogs of Texas is the most incredible organization with the most amazing people. As a puppy raiser I have had the blessing of working with this group and I have been blown away by their passion to help the community around them. They don’t just raise dogs to be seeing eye companions for visually impaired Texans, they make sure the dog’s journey can positively impact as many people as possible. GDTX has never ceased to amaze me with their kindness and determination to give back to the community they love.
Amazing mission-focused nonprofit with a quality/service-first approach to the blind Texans that they serve.
Guide Dogs of Texas is an incredible organization with lasting impact. GDTX provides in-depth assistance to individuals with vision impairment as they complete their journey to guided sight. They do a wonderful job of educating the community and remaining engaged.
I decided to volunteer with Guide Dogs of Texas after attending a tour of their facility and learning about the amazing things their dogs do to make life more meaningful and independent for their clients. Guide Dogs of Texas is incredibly serious about what they do and accepts nothing less than excellence in their care and training of the dogs. Likewise, they are sensitive and accommodating as they work to ensure that each client is prepared and successfully partnered with just the right dog. It's an amazing process, and an amazing organization! I am currently working in the puppy "nursery," helping to socialize the puppies before they move on to the next stage in their momentous life of service.
I recently signed up to Volunteer for GDOT. It's an amazing organization and I enjoy helping out with the dogs any way possible!
In 2016, after losing my canine companion of 16 years, I looked into volunteering situations where I could work with canines. Guide Dogs of Texas was the most amazing group I found. They breed, raise, train and support Guide Dogs for the visually impaired. I came in as a puppy raiser volunteer. I received my first foster pup when she was 8 weeks old. Bell, a yellow lab, stayed with me for almost a year. In that time we learned the basics such as sit, down, stay and we walked every day to learn how not to pull on a leash and to be aware of the person next to you. We went to the post office, grocery shopping, city council meetings and church, to name a few places. She went with me to restaurants and parks, she on vacation with me and lots of other places to help her navigate situations of all kinds. She was an amazing teacher to me as were the people at Guide Dogs. If I had a question or concern someone was right there to assist in such a positive and friendly way. I am now working with my second puppy foster and have also entered the Advanced Training Boarder program where I take a dog that is working in Advanced Mobility Training from 8 - 5 Monday through Friday and keep them overnight and on weekends and let them just be a dog and not work at all. I have to love them and feed them and give them a place to sleep. It is a wonderful place to volunteer and the product is a fantastic relationship between a well-trained and highly intelligent dog and sight-impaired individual. I can't think of a better way to spend my spare time.
I have been volunteering with Guide Dogs Of Texas for 6 years now and I feel extremely honored to know the people and puppies in this organization! Top notch trainers! Top notch guide dogs!
Hi Everyone, I'm the CEO of Guide Dogs of Texas and also a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor. I've been with GDTX for over 17 years because I believe in the life-changing impact of our mission. If you're interested in learning more, visit us at guidedogsoftexas.org.
Guide Dogs of Texas is the only guide Dog organization in Texas. We supply trained guide dogs to blind and visually impaired. It takes approximately $50,000 to train a guide dog and we furnish the guide dog to the blind client for $1.00. We breed out on dogs so we know the blood line
I have been a puppy boarder and volunteer for the past couple of years and I can't say enough wonderful things about Guide Dogs of Texas! The staff are not only knowledgable, they are kind, generous and thoughtful. The small role I play in occasional puppy boarding and volunteering with various events is the least I can do to help provide someone with the mobility and freedom one of our Guide Dogs will provide.
I have been a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs of Texas for over three years, a volunteer for over four years, and a board member since 2016. I can't say enough wonderful things about the staff and my fellow volunteers. It is great to be a part of an organization with such an incredible mission. I feel lucky to play a role in contributing to this mission!
I volunteered for a year of puppy sitting through the pawsitive approach program. This program has a two fold purpose to not only train the pup but to also help low risk offenders integrate back into society with greater life skills. So awesome, huge impact!!!
I've been volunteering for GDTX for 15 years as a puppy raiser and puppy sitter. My role has rewarded me hundreds of times over. The puppies have been loved by children in my preschool. You can imagine the lessons learned by small children with a growing and changing puppy in our classroom. The puppies teach many lessons for children while the children provide learning opportunities for the puppies. I love puppies, so having the puppies in my school has made my job more exciting and enjoyable. I also just love taking the pups to the concerts and theaters in Austin. I am recognized in my circles as a sort of puppy lady. I love GDTX. The staff are always there to answer my questions and come to the rescue when things go wrong. Yes, it is a huge responsibility, but there is a great GDTX team of support behind every volunteer.
This organizations is one of the best with which I have ever been associated. They fulfill their mission with enthusiasm and expertise. When I started they came to me to provide the training that I needed, in a helpful, not condescending, manner. Their fundraisers are varied and interesting, with no heavy pressure tactics for donations. I feel proud to know I can contribute a small part to all they accomplish for their clients.
We got involved with Guide Dogs of Texas as an opportunity for the us and the kids to do something for the community as well as be involved in something fun. We are puppy sitters for the GDOT and it has been an incredible experience. The dogs are incredibly well trained and absolutely wonderful animals. I personally think this is an amazing organization and are so happy to be involved. It gives us a chance to have a "part time" pet, since we travel and are out a lot for work and yet show our kids the joy and duties that come with caring for a pet. Volunteers are always needed and this is an incredible cause to be involved with.
Guide Dogs of Texas offers many opportunities for people to volunteer and get involved in the community. They provide guide dogs to individuals who are visually impaired in order to increase the person's freedom, mobility and independence. As a volunteer puppy raiser I have had the privilege of raising a puppy that will go on to be a guide dog. Guide Dogs of Texas provides all the training necessary to their volunteers.
I volunteer photography services to the Guide Dogs of Texas. I have been working with Mike (the volunteer foster family) & Gino (the Guide Dog) documenting Gino's training around town. The staff at the Guide Dogs headed by April Medlin is absolutely the most professional team. They provide ample notice, great event details, prompt replies to questions and are so appreciative of every little thing you can do for them. Kudos to this wonderful mission to give people with visual impairments fuller, more independent lives. Kudos also to Team Guide Dogs of Texas for how well they appreciate their volunteers!
My good friend with a Guide Dog recently got a replacement Guide Dog from Guide Dogs of Texas. The dogs work for about 8 or 9 years then retire at age 11 or 12 or so. Her new Guide Dog is wonderful and the organization was able to get her a new dog quickly so that she did not have to reorganize her entire life because she had to go back to a white cane.
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I first found out about Guide Dogs of Texas from a friend who slowly lost her sight over many years. Now, many years later, I am just amazed at what a Guide Dog can mean to blind person. It is truly life changing. And now that I know many clients with dogs from GDTX, I understand just how special this only Guide Dog school in Texas really is. These are not mass produced, one size fits all, trained dogs. These are very highly trained human/canine teams that work together to help and love each other. By taking the time to match the parts of a team and customize the training to what the team needs, very special bonds are forged and both parts of the team have their lives vastly enriched. Learning just how deep the love and understanding can be in a Guide Dog was a revelation. A top end Guide Dog isn't just doing tricks. They really do understand that this person they love can not see and they do everything in their power to help and protect them. I have heard stories about dogs protecting their clients from muggers, and disobeying a direct order that, it turned out, would have been extremely dangerous if followed.
I volunteer my time and energy on a regular basis to Guide Dogs of Texas and I am a happier, better person for doing so. They do so much with so little, that you can really see your help make a big difference. It is an amazing group of people.
I have just started working with Guide Dogs of Texas. So far everything has been wonderful and easy to get started. Recently Jessica came to our house with 3 different dogs to get us acclimated to the program. I cannot wait to get started with this great organization. Sincerely Blanton Hansen
Speaking to a group of 3rd. graders is no easy task. Jessica B. from Guide Dogs of Texas did and she kept their attention through the entire presentation. She did an interactive class which really increased the kids awareness of a typical day is like for a person who is visually impaired. How a dog truly enhances their lives. They have a better understanding of how important all service dogs are. One young lady left telling her mom she knows what she wants to do when she gets older. Jodi K.
I'm a puppy raiser and speaker for GDTX. They are so good at putting their client and dog teams first.
I've worked with Guide Dogs of Texas for over 15 years, and had the great joy of witnessing how these Guide Dogs change people's lives. I count many Guide Dog Owners as friends, and their experiences help keep me motivated every day. Not only are the guide dogs sweet, willing, and brilliant, the people they help are determined to achieve everything they can, despite not being able to see the world around them. Besides being an employee, I count myself as a donor and volunteer as well. Please support this fantastic organization!
Guide Dogs of Texas has made a large impact on their clients (blind people), their volunteers and the communities they serve. From their humble beginnings and thru many struggles they have maintained quality staff, excellent dog training and breeding for specific traits and characteristics, developed a broad program of educating volunteers and the community, as well as supporting their clients and guide dogs. They have numerous clients return to them for another dog when their dog is ready to retire. I am proud to be a long term volunteer to such a dynamic organization.
I have been volunteering with this organization for a little while now. With many options of how volunteers can assist this very important mission, there is something for everyone here. Don't just take our words for it though, call and schedule to visit the office for a mission tour sometime and decide for yourself. We look forward to meeting you!
I recently began to volunteer at Guide Dogs of Texas. It is an amazing organization that greatly benefits Texans with disabilities. Their staff is the best. They do their best to ensure those Texans are well taken care of by their exceptionally trained guide dogs. If you become a volunteer, you will love it!
We recently started volunteering with Guide Dogs of Texas and have been blown away by the training that they provide to the dogs. We get to board one of the dogs during the weekends, and seeing the way they behave in the house, around kids and other people, and how intelligent they are just proves to me that this organization does an amazing job.
A good friend and co-worker of mine slowly went blind over the years I have known her. It was through her that I met the wonderful people at Guide Dogs of Texas. I am now a very regular volunteer and my friend is on her second guide dog from this great Guide Dog School. I can't say enough good things about these people. Hey work very hard with a fairly small staff that somehow manages to energize a large group of volunteers in order to make absolutely HUGE differences in the lives of blind people lucky enough to get one of their amazing animals. And the puppies are cute too. ;)
Review from Guidestar
An awesome organization dedicated to the well being of both their clients & dogs. It has been an awesome experience getting to know several of the staff members, they are always willing to educate and answer questions, even past when the "normal" work day ends! Thanks to all your staff and the wonderful dogs you train and send out into the community!
My husband has his second guide dog from Guide Dogs of Texas. He is very involved in several different organizations promoting legislative and business opportunities for the blind and does a lot of traveling connected to them. Thanks to his wonderful, intelligent guide dog, Ziva, he is able to do his part to help the blind community. Thank you, Guide Dogs of Texas - you have given my husband his independence!
My brother in law has had 2 guide dogs and they are an incredible help. I can't imagine him being able to work and live his life without the service of his guide dog.
My wife and I have worked with GDTX for a few years as volunteers doing just about anything from puppy sitting to making phone calls. Guide dogs of Texas has always been a top notch group to work with, respectful of people and animals, and has always thought of others first.
My family and I got involved with Guide Dogs of Texas when we rehomed one of their training dogs, Bailey. Our lives have been blessed by Bailey and the hard work that the Guide Dogs staff did to train her. She is an incredible dog!! So smart, loving and obedient.
Since then I have volunteered my time to the organization to give back in a variety of ways. I enjoy working with the staff, meeting clients and helping the organization to have a bigger presence in the state.
The highly trained dogs they provide to those in need are absolutely amazing. They change people's lives and allow them to be independent. Their match program makes sure clients get the right dogs and vice versa.
Guide Dogs of Texas! They are the greatest!!! Words can never express the thanks to them for the wonderfully trained Guide Dogs they provided for me. Everyday my Guide Dog helps me navigate my community in a safe and confident manner. I have met many nice people, who come up to me, and ask me about my Guide Dog. When I used my "white cane", people seldom came up to talk to me. This has been an added benefit of having my wonderful Guide Dog! Thanks again Guide Dogs of Texas! You are my great blessing!
Client and Volunteer
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I am a client served by Guide Dogs of Texas, as well as a volunteer. No amount of thanks can repay how much I appreciate the wonderfully trained guide dogs I have received from GDTX. Training for my first guide dog was in March 2005 and I trained with my second guide dog March of 2013. Both guide dogs have been expertly trained and as a team we received one on one training. If a problem should arise I know that the highly trained and caring staff is just a phone call away. Everyday I am blessed to have my guide dog help me travel safely and independently. This includes traveling in our community as well as traveling to other states to attend conferences. Volunteering is just a small token of giving back. I love telling others about the expert training staff and best trained guide dogs in the U.S.A! And educating others about GUIDE DOGS of TEXAS. Please spread the word! Thanks!
LAWill
I've been a puppy raiser for GDTX since 2012, when I received a C-litter puppy to bring home and raise. GDTX helped us with constant advice and 1-on-1 puppy training. They were available any time day or night and responded to a call or text within minutes.
We've continued to puppy raise and puppy sit since then. One dog we helped raise is now traveling the world making a difference in the live of not just her teammate, but his family, and those people who see him so independent and the deep bond he has with his dog.
The way this group changes lives can't be underestimated. They change the lives of clients and volunteers as well. I'm proud to be involved with a group that gives the gift of sight.
I have served on the Board of this wonderful organization for almost three years and have been truly heartened to see the level of commitment and of sacrifice from the staff and volunteers. As with all non-profits that I'm aware of, the need to raise funds is crucial. We all work so hard to help provide for the organization, but it is well worth it to see and understand what the guide dogs mean to those who receive them. The Mission Tour that is available periodically is well worth the time.
As a recipient of one of these fabulous guide dogs, my mobility freedom has soared. The bittersweet day of my first guide dog’s retirement is fast approaching, but my second guide dog, now in advanced training, will soon be ready for our team training to begin. Thanks to GDTX and the best dogs in sight for creating a smooth transition phase between chapter 1 and chapter 2 of a guide dog team’s story!
Donna Grahmann
Behind Our Eyes: A Second Look
My name is Nadia, and I am a first-time guide dog user. I have an extremely beautiful and smart yellow lab named Blitz that I received from the Guide dog of Texas about a year ago. My guide dog allows me to go places and do things that were once impossible to accomplish without assistance from friends or family members. Now I am able to freely move around my neighborhood, go for walks, go to the park, or go to the mall. In addition, she is great with my kids. She is truly remarkable; mature and responsible in one situation, yet a playful puppy in another. She is well-trained and well-behaved dog who knows exactly what to do.
I am completely blind as a result of a tragic car accident. I was told about the Guide Dogs of Texas in San Antonio an organization that provides guide dogs for visually impaired individuals living in Texas. I applied and fortunately was qualified to have a guide dog. That was in May of 2009. Currently, I have my second dog from GDTX because my first dog had been retired in summer of 2012 due to medical issue.
GDTX organization provides exceptionally well- trained guide dogs. I also appreciate that both of my dogs-who have also been my best friends-have special skills and special qualities.
I admired the staffs and trainers for their dedication and unselfish commitment of taking care of my needs during my training. The training was personalized and rigorous but very satisfying and rewarding at the end.
My guide dog has enhanced my mobility and independence. It has made a great difference and has touched my life as a Blessing.
Bernardo Curiano
We have volunteered in a few different capacities for GDTX over the last few years. It is a very rewarding experience each time and realizing how much this organization helps not only people in their own community but also across the entire state we continue to help as often as we can. We also adopted a retired dog several years ago and cannot begin to tell you how much our dog, Juno has enriched our lives. Now this may sound a bit prejudice but it comes from the heart. Our daughter is an apprentice Guide a Dog Mobility instructor and when I hear first hand from her about all the hard work these individuals put forth every single day, lots of nights and weekends, and holidays I am just amazed and very proud to be affiliated with this group even though our part is minute compared to theirs. Any and all help, whether manual or monetary is truly appreciated by this very worthwhile group and it's clients. Take a moment to research them and then decide how you can help or contribute to this very worthy cause and organization .
Our family has been involved with the Guide Dogs of Texas since it first started. At that time, our son wanted a Doberman and we were expecting a new baby. So, he brought a 4-H newsletter to us and in it, there was a request for puppy walkers for the Guide Dogs. We agreed to let him try and have been volunteering on and off ever since. We have been puppy walkers four times, volunteer to prepare meals for clients, puppy sitter, one son was kennel manager for 7 years, etc. No matter which location, how small or large the facility, or who was on the staff, or who was volunteering, this organization works together to train the puppies to grow to be able to give independence and mobility to the clients who are chosen. Everyone has a common goal and cares greatly about the clients and the dogs. They make sure the puppies who don't make it as guide dogs end up as service dogs for other organizations or with a wonderful forever home. The funds they receive are used for the good of the organization and not wasted or spent frivolously. I can say honestly that I have received much more than I have given in volunteering for the Guide Dogs of Texas. May they continue to grow strong!
“Mobility, freedom, Independence.” – Guide Dogs of Texas
I have been a volunteer for Guide Dogs of Texas for several years. I learned about this remarkable organization and their dedication to improving the lives of disabled individuals through my sorority’s volunteer commitment of service for sight (Delta Gamma). GDTx has an allegiance to individuals who are visually impaired. Guide dogs from GDTx are loving, trained, and constant companions who provide their owner with the freedom, mobility and independence for their daily lives. Guide Dogs of Texas maintains responsibility and nurtures their dogs and dog owners from when the puppy is born to the dog’s retirement. Each dog is matched with the right client for needs and temperament. The match is vital to the success of the clients.
I have worked with clients during their “class” training which is when a client get their dog and go through training at GDTx. Clients come to the center here in San Antonio for training that lasts about three or four weeks. They live on site, working with a dedicated instructor and their dog. As a volunteer, I have cooked and provided meals, assisted with transportation and daily living needs, and spent social time with clients.
Guide Dogs of Texas is amazing. Take one of their facilities tours and get to know this group. The rewards are abundant.
When we retired from the military and moved to San Antonio . I decided since we finally had a yard that I try to board a guide dog since boarders were advertised. I found out that puppy raisers were needed, I interviewed and was accepted. Since then it has been a wonderful ride. With care and talent the Guide dog group trained me to work with the puppies, to socialize them. Taking them in public places, where ever I go the pup goes. I realized that most of the public really do not know or understand what a guide dog is or is permitted to to, or what the rule of law applies to the puppy raiser or client with a dog. I raised 5 dogs over a 10 year period. I was introduced to the board of the organization and joined 6 yrs ago. We are raising money, to support our small non profit, educate the public , and most of all give help to the blind clients, who would other wise be home bound and living a non life with out a dog to provide mobility, to get to work , live a social life, and do it safely. I mean with out zig zagging down a street , running unto garbage cans, cars, tree limbs anything a cane cannot do that a guide dog can. I am proud to be part of this group, they have professional integrity that makes Guide dogs well worth the investment as a non profit.
I had the chance to spend some time with the staff and the wonderful dogs during a fundraiser, it was amazing! The care that they give each of the dogs and the love passion that they have to help is beyond words. The facility is well run, organized, inviting and the attitudes are extremely positive. They not only match up people with a 'guide dog' they make friendships that endure.
My son was partnered with a guide dog from Guide Dogs of Texas. Not only is he a very good service dog but also a friend to my son. Guide dogs of Texas include them in fundraising work which raises their morale. They help their clients by following up on all aspects of service dog ownership. Thanks for all you do. Seymour is a valued family member.
Now in existence for 25 years, Guide Dogs of Texas continues to serve our visually impaired and blind clients. I am proud to be associated with this organization, my fellow board members and an amazingly dedicated staff and group of volunteers. Your work truly matters and continues to make a positive impact in the lives of our fellow Texans. Cheers!
I'm a puppy raiser for them. They are very supportive by being only a text, email or phone call away. They've changed our lives for the better, and we're just volunteers. I can only imagine the impact in the lives of our clients.