While we provide all of our dogs and services at no cost to recipients, it costs tens of thousands of dollars per dog to breed, raise, and train our guide and service dogs and then follow up with our alumni for the life of the team.

Southeastern Guide Dogs provides its dogs and training to students free of charge. The school will provide the dog, equipment, training, housing, and most meals during your training. Southeastern Guide Dogs will offer your guide dog high-quality food, monthly preventatives, vaccinations, and the annual veterinary wellness visit – free of charge. However, you must have the ability to financially cover your guide dog’s other veterinary expenses and general expenses such as treats, toys, crate, dog bed, etc.

Our guide dog students join us for 20 days at our Palmetto, FL campus. We offer private, single occupancy rooms, with a private bathroom, single bed, walk-in showers, closets, small refrigerators in each room, flat-screen televisions with cable, a desk for working, wireless access, and much, much more. We have two chefs on staff that provide healthy and delicious meals for our students. They’re happy to accommodate any special dietary requests.

We also provide guide dog training in pre-approved applicants’ home communities, depending on the circumstances, and the length of training time varies, depending on the person’s previous guide dog experience and skill level. This training takes place in neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and communities.

We do our best to match our guide dogs with qualified applicants as quickly as possible. After your paperwork has been turned in and your application approved, the waiting period ranges from about two months to one year, with an average of six months.

The timing of approval of your initial application depends on how quickly we receive your paperwork, including information we must receive from the providers named on your application.

After approval, factors that affect your waiting period include identifying just the right dog to fit your needs, with your unique lifestyle, activity level, and pace taken into consideration. If you are particular about requesting a specific breed, gender, or coat color, then your waiting period may be extended.