Apply for a Guide Dog

Guide dogs are assistance dogs trained to guide and aid, in order to improve the quality of life who are blind, have low vision, or other disabilities.  

Applicants must be legally blind and can demonstrate the need for a guide dog to help them remain safe and effective in their everyday travel. We look for clients that can independently travel practical and purposeful routes with their current mobility device.

This online application is part one of our application process.  Once you have submitted the application below, a member of our team will contact you within five business days.  All fields are "Required" before you can submit the application. 

As you proceed through our application process, we will require additional documents, including a medical report to be completed by your physician, an Orientation and Mobility Specialist’s report, an ophthalmology report, and application video.  Click here to see our guide to create your application video . Please note that the completion of the following application form does not guarantee acceptance as a client at the Guide Dog Foundation.

For applicants accepted to our program, all services are provided for free including travel, lodging, training, and a lifetime of aftercare support services.

All information provided is privileged and will be considered confidential.  The Foundation administers its employment, admissions and training programs in a nondiscriminatory manner and in accordance with applicable state and federal laws. 

The Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, creed, religious affiliation, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, victims of domestic violence or the presence of a medical condition or disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, or any other group protected by law.

For Screen Reader Users:

The two page application below includes a number of fields.  You will be required to use the "Tab" button, "Arrow" keys or other keys specific to your screen reader in order to navigate through the application.  

Once you submit your application, you should be directed to a message that verifies that we have received your application.  If you are not directed to that page, you will be re-directed to the top of the application where you will find a list of fields that must be completed before you will be able to submit your application.

If you cannot navigate the form, or your browser does not support forms, please contact Consumer Services for assistance at ConsumerServices@GuideDog.org or call 631-930-9072.  A Word Document application is available by request.

PERSONAL INFORMATION





For Veterans

If discharged, please provide a copy of your DD-214 (Member-4) by sending a copy to: Applications@vetdogs.org, Fax: 631-930-9075 or mail: America’s VetDogs Consumer Services,371 E. Jericho Tpke. Smithtown, NY 11787.