GDB Staff or Puppy Club Leader Home Visits
To ensure both the safety and development of Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) puppies, a member of the Puppy Raising Support Team (GDB staff member or puppy club leader) will visit potential puppy raising homes either in person or virtually. The following guidelines help ensure that GDB’s goals for its puppies are met, that volunteers’ privacy is respected, and that a cooperative attitude is maintained among all program participants.
- Prior to the placement of a puppy, all homes must undergo a visit. If a family currently has a pet dog, an in-person visit will be required. If no pet dogs live in the home, a virtual home visit may be sufficient.
- If a youth puppy raiser resides part-time or for vacation periods of a month or more within another household, that home may require a visit at the discretion of the puppy raising field manager (PFM). In addition, that household’s custodial person must be in contact with the PFM to ensure compliance with general GDB guidelines or those training, socialization, or reporting guidelines prescribed for that raiser/puppy team. Please consult with the PFM with any questions about this policy.
- A staff member or volunteer should be accompanied by another adult when visiting the home of a puppy raising applicant with whom they are unfamiliar.
- A raiser may receive additional visits as requested by their leader or GDB staff.
- A raiser who believes that requests for additional visits are excessive can address concerns by contacting their PFM.
- A staff member or leader must attempt to contact a raiser at least 48 hours prior to visiting that raiser’s home. "Surprise" visits are discouraged and should be initiated only if a raiser is not responding to communications or if a puppy's welfare is a concern.
- A staff member or volunteer may not enter another's yard or home without the permission of that person.
- An adult may not visit a youth volunteer at the youth's home without the youth's parent or designated adult guardian present.
Home Visits
Step 1: Video Submissions
Prospective volunteers will submit videos to their support team member (puppy club leader or PFM) prior to the virtual home visit (10 min. max for all videos combined).
Videos should include:
- Fencing around the perimeter of the home. Include gates and latches. Please indicate the approximate height of the fence.
- Proposed relieving areas.
- Proposed crate location (including daytime and nighttime locations).
- Proposed tether locations.
- Kitchen area of the home, including trash cans.
- Any areas of concern (pools/Jacuzzi/fountains/ponds, litter box locations, playrooms, areas with houseplants, etc.).
Step 2: Upload videos following the instructions of the support team member.
Step 3: Attend a virtual home visit via Zoom that will be scheduled with all participating family members in attendance. This meeting will take approximately 30 minutes.
Submitted videos will be reviewed, and the virtual home visit will include a discussion regarding GDB support and expectations, vet care support and guidelines, interactions with any pets, flea and tick prevention, and details about what to expect. Prospective volunteers will also have an opportunity to ask questions.
If prospective volunteers have a pet dog, they will also need an in-person home dog visit. The support team member will schedule a time to visit the home, and will bring a friendly dog with them. They will first introduce themselves and the visiting dog and allow everyone to become acquainted without the pet dog present. We ask that the pet dog be confined on leash, in a crate, or in another room during this introduction.
Once ready to go for a walk, the support team member will take the visiting dog outside and a family member will bring the pet dog out on leash. The dogs will be taken on a “parallel walk.” The dogs will be walking near each other, but not close enough to interact.
After the walk, the dogs will be allowed to greet briefly on leash. Once the dogs can be calm around each other, they may be taken into a fenced yard (if applicable) and have an optional off-leash introduction. The dogs will be managed so they can relax without continued play and will be taken to a main room in the house and have calm interaction time with both dogs on leash.
This visit will take approximately 30 minutes.
Checklist
The Support Team member will use a checklist to walk through the home visit process. Download a copy of the checklist here.
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