Bill Baker Memorial
Steel & Wheel Super show
Hosted by IAM 751-A
help Guide Dogs of America.
I would like to introduce you to a wonderful
Organization, Guide Dogs of America. The International
Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers founded
Guide Dogs of America in 1948, when one of their retired
members, Joseph Jones, Sr., was denied a guide dog due to
his advanced age. Since then, Guide Dogs of America has
bred, raised and trained some of the world’s most dedicated
dogs and paired them with visually impaired individuals of all
ages, races and beliefs, from all over the United States and
Canada. The freedom and independence a guide dog brings
to a visually impaired person is immeasurable.
Guide Dogs of America breeds, raises and trains these dogs at their Sylmar,
California facility. After the dog is trained, the visually impaired person is then brought to
Sylmar and carefully matched with a guide dog, taking into consideration their lifestyle
and environment. In addition, the personalities of student and guide dog, size, strength,
pace of walk and energy levels of each are also matched to ensure a harmonious
relationship. Each team is housed at the facility and spends twenty-four hours a day
together for twenty-eight days. Upon completion, an awards ceremony is held for
students, dogs, friends and family members. The graduates then return home with their
new partner and a renewed sense of freedom and independence.
The cost of breeding, raising, training and finally pairing a quality dog to a visually
impaired person exceeds $42,000. All services, including the guide dog, harness, inresidence
training and lifetime follow-up, are free-of-charge to the visually impaired.
