What happens to the guide dog after they retire or are disqualified?
Handlers have the option to keep the retired guides or they may have Guide Dogs of the Desert International place them in suitable homes. Disqualified puppies are first offered to other service organizations, (i.e, search and rescue, bomb detection, therapy) and then to the most suitable home, which is often times the puppy raiser. If the raiser cannot take the dog, our waiting list of people wanting to adopt is consulted. Retired guide dogs are often placed as Therapy dogs in rest homes and hospitals.
