Thank you for your interest in the Guide Dog Foundation's Breeder Caretaker Program.  Please fill out the information below and submit to us for review.  

Which volunteer opportunity (or opportunities) are you applying for?

Breeder Caretaker  Breeder Sitter


Section 1: Personal Info

First Name: 
Last Name:  
Address Line 1: 
Address Line 2: 
City: 
State:  Zip:  
Home Phone: Cell Phone:  
Email Address:  
 Please indicate your preferred contact method:
Do you check email at least daily? 
Do you have an answering machine/voicemail? 
Do you check it daily? 
If you are applying to be caretaker for a puppy you are currently raising, please include the puppy's name and ID#

 

Section 2: Lifestyle

Please list the names of all household members. If there are children under 18, please list their age.
 

 

How long will the dog be alone at home each day (in hours):  
Please note: Dogs that enter into the breeding program are young adult dogs that are accustomed to being with their people a majority of the time. 

 

Do you have a completely fenced-in backyard at least 5 feet tall?  If yes, please indicate type and height of fence:  
**Full-time Breeder Caretakers MUST have a fenced yard. Those without a fenced yard will be considered for other opportunities on a case by case basis.**

 

Are there other pets in the house?  If so, please state type, age, gender, and neuter status:  
Are these pets current on their vaccinations? 
May we contact your veterinarian for vaccine histories? 
If yes, please provide contact info:  

 

Do you prefer a male or female dog? 
We have mostly Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and a few Poodles.  Is there a breed that you do NOT want? 
(Requests for color and body type are not taken) 
 Are you able to transport the dog to the GDF campus between the hours of 10am - 3:30pm?
 Are you willing to follow all the rules set forth by GDF for housing, breeding dogs, including but not limited to, certain periods of "on property quarantine" for the breeding dog and other household dogs and never allowing the dog off leash when in an unfenced area?

 

Section 3: Previous Dog Ownership

Please give a brief history of your dog ownership (dogs you had, what happened to them, titles or training completed, etc.) 
 
How did you learn about fostering a GDF breeding dog?
Why do you want to foster a GDF breeding dog?  

 

Section 4: Breeder Caretaker Policy Questions

If you are not applying to be a Breeder Caretaker, please skip to Section 5

Are you willing to drive the dog to Smithtown whenever asked and maybe on a day's notice (a brood or stud may require up to 20 trips per year)? 
Can you provide the dog food designated by the Breeding Department at a cost of approximately $40 to $60 per month?  
Are you willing to attend 4 obedience classes a year at the GDF campus?  
Are you willing to part with the dog during the several weeks it may be at Guide Dog Foundation?  
Are you will to part with the dog for up to 4 months should it travel to another assistance dog school for breeding or whelping?  
 Are you able to transport the dog to GDF during kennel hours of 10:00 - 5:30? 
 Are you able to transport the dog to GDF during nursery hours of 10:00 - 4:00? 
Females can be in the program for up to 6 years, males can be in the program up to 10 years. During this time, the Guide Dog Foundation has sole discretion as to the choices of whelping locations, disposition of puppies, age of retirement, and any other matters related to breeding for the duration of the dog's career. Is this acceptable to you?  
When do you want to get a dog?  
Note: Dogs are placed based on the dog's fit to an applicant's lifestyle and home life. The wait for a breeding dog can vary from 1 - 18 months. 

 

Section 5: Litter Host Policy Questions

If you are not applying to be a Litter Host, please skip to Section 6

 Are you currently puppy raising or tempting for GDF or fostering for another organization?
Are you able to quarantine your personal dogs for the time you host the mom and puppies?
(This means that dogs will be required to stay on the home's property ONLY! Dogs living in the same home as the whelp will not be allowed to go for walks around the neighborhood, attend classes, or go to the groomer.)
Are you able to limit the amount of people in and out of your home for the first 2-3 weeks of the puppies' lives?
Are you able to restrict traffic of other pets by the area where mom will have her puppies for the first 2-3 weeks?
Are you comfortable having a GDF whelping team member visit your home at least weekly at mutually agreed upon times?
Are you able to transport the mom & litter to the Foundation during normal nursery hours, 10am - 3:30pm, if necessary?
Do you have previous experience with breeding or whelping?
 If yes, please explain:

 

Section 6: References

1. Please give a dog related reference such as a veterinarian, GDF Puppy Advisor, etc: 
Name:  Title:  
Phone:  

 

2. Please give a personal reference such as a GDF puppy raiser, co-worker, etc: 
Name: Title: 
Phone:  

 

Liability Release

 I understand that participation in the above event or activity could include actions or tasks that might be hazardous to the participant named above.

By signing below, I assume any risk of harm or injury which might occur to the participant due to my participation in the event or activity. I release the organization or business named above from all liability, costs and damages which might arise from participation in the above named event or activity.

If the participant is a minor, I agree that the minor has my consent to participate in the event. I further provide my consent for the organization or business named above to seek emergency treatment for the minor if necessary. I agree to accept financial responsibility for the costs related to this emergency treatment.

I understand there is a potential risk of injury, but represent my physical condition will allow me to participate. I agree to hold the organizations harmless from any claim resulting from injury to me and in no event to seek any form of speculative or punitive damages of any kind.

 

Publicity Release

I hereby give the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs the unqualified right to reproduce any media – including film, photographic prints, audio, video, or digital files – with or without my name or biographical data concerning me by the Foundation or another party on its behalf, without limitation as to time or frequency of use, for any or all of the following purposes:

 

  1. Release to media, including print, broadcast, and electronic media (including social media platforms) now known or later developed
  2. Educational or instructional purposes
  3. Publicity, marketing, or fundraising
  4. Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs – the Veteran’s K-9 Corps® publications, presentations, and related uses

 

I understand that the Guide Dog Foundation or America’s VetDogs® will try to notify me prior to using any media, and I understand that such notification is not always possible.

I have read the above and foregoing and agree to all of the terms.


Signature (Type full name):      Date: