Founded in 1983, Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides provides Canadians with a medical or physical disability with a Dog Guide at no cost. The Foundation operates Dog Guides Canada, a national training school and separately-registered charity that assists individuals with disabilities through specialized Dog Guide programs. The largest school of its kind in Canada, Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides has two training facilities in Ontario: one in Breslau and another in Oakville.

Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides has seven Dog Guides programs: Canine Vision (for the blind and visually impaired), Hearing (for the deaf and hard of hearing), Service (for the physically disabled), Seizure Response (for those with epilepsy), Autism Assistance (for children aged 3 to 12 living with autism spectrum disorder), Support (for professional agencies with people in traumatic situations), and Diabetic Alert (for those who have type 1 diabetes with hypoglycemic unawareness). The Dog Guides are specially trained to meet the needs of the individuals they are placed with.

In 2017, total operating costs per trained, but not necessarily qualified, dog were $14,814, down from $18,681 in F2016. The number of dogs trained in F2017 was 315, up from 247 in F2016, and due to the likely high fixed cost structure of the training program, the operating costs per dog were lower in F2017. Dog Guide training is four to six months, training one-on-one with a qualified trainer. Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides reports that it takes nearly two years to raise, train, and partner a Dog Guide.

Results and Impact: Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides reported that 72% of its trained dogs were successfully trained and qualified as Dog Guides in F2017, up from 67% in F2016. In 2017, total operating costs per fully trained and qualified Dog Guide were $20,575, down from $27,882 in F2016.  Dogs that are disqualified from the training program are put up for adoption. The charity reports 182 people were partnered with a qualified dog in F2017, meaning that total operating costs per pairing were $25,640.  A survey from a sample of these people reports 92% experienced an improvement in their quality of life, 94% were satisfied with the program, and 97% would recommended the program.

Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides is a Medium-sized charity with $4.7m in donations and special events revenues in F2017. Its administrative costs are 16% of revenues and its fundraising costs are 15% of donations and special events revenue. For every dollar donated to the charity, 69 cents go to the cause, falling within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. The charity’s funding reserves of $15.2m can cover program costs for 4.8 years, showing a lack of funding need.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on July 18, 2018 by Joeyanne Cheung.