What it costs to breed, raise, train and partner a "Seeing Eye Dog"

Breeding and Puppies to 7 weeks old: $2,500

The cost to breed the highest standard working dog includes:
Selective breeding (genetics), food, veterinarian costs and care of breeding dog. Pre and post whelping vet costs, food, eye examination, development and early training.

Puppy Development 8 Weeks to 12 months: $5,000

During the first year of its life a puppy needs lots of care and attention in preparation for Seeing Eye Dog work. Puppies are placed with volunteer families, known as Puppy Careres, who are taught how to help the puppy become confident. This includes when around children, walking next to busy roads, being in shopping centres, buses, trains and other environments in which an Seeing Eye Dog may work.  Puppies are taught how to be well behaved around other dogs.

Throughout this period, a professional puppy carer supervisor will monitor each puppy's progress with regular visits and training sessions with the Carer.

SEDA covers all costs in this 12 months which includes food, training, micro - chiping veterinarian, x-rays of hips, elbows, specialist eye exams - all are necessary to ensure each dog is sound and suitable for Seeing Eye Dog training.

Each Volunteer Puppy Carer receives a Puppy Pack consisting of: SEDA tag, micro chipping and tag, extendable coolar, leather lead, worming tablets, rope toy, bowl, Dentabones, Puppy Carer ID card, brushes, Sentinel, futon, Seeing Eye Puppy coats and identification polo shirts for volunteers.

Seeing Eye Dog training 12 months to 18 months: $8,500

This comprises 6 months of intensive training, kennel costs, food and vet costs

Training of Client with Dog 18 months: $8,000

A careful matching process takes place to provide the best dog to suit each client. It usually takes 4 - 5 weeks for the Client and Seeing Eye Dog to begin to work effectively together as a team. The Client is given personal individual training each day of this training. An Instructor will also return to the Client's home to assist the 'team' to settle in and teach specific walking routes and destinations it needs to be able to locate.

Initial four weeks client training plus one week at Clients home;
Four weeks accommodation, housekeeping and all meals for Client: $2,700
Seeing Eye Dog Harness, lead, collar: $300

Follow up and Aftercare for the life of dog: $6,000

After training has been completed, an Instructor regularly visits or contacts each team to ensure they are still working safelty to provide further support and training as required.

Medications for the life ofthe Seeing Eye Dog including heart worm and fleas.

TOTAL: $30,000