BC & Alberta Guide Dogs
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersDelta, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BC & Alberta Guide Dogs
- Legal name
- British Columbia Guide Dog Services
- Website
- https://bcandalbertaguidedogs.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Assistance Dog Services
- NAICS
- Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Child and Youth Services (624110), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Service & Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Accommodations Management (EDALAGAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA), DME, Mobility & Assistive Devices (Wheelchairs, Braces, Recovery Collars) (HLAMAFAN)
Keywords
Where BC & Alberta Guide Dogs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Delta
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization relies heavily on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund its operations and provide dogs free of charge to recipients.
- Puppy Sponsorship Programs: Monthly sponsorship programs starting at $20/month allowing donors to follow a puppy's journey through training with regular updates and photos.
- Government Funding: Federal and provincial government grants including the $2.7 million Enabling Accessibility Fund for the new Breeding & Training Centre.
- Event Fundraising: Annual events including Ties & Tails Gala, Golf for Guide Dogs Tournament, and Trivia Night generate significant fundraising revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Dogs provided at no cost to recipients |
| Subscription | Monthly | Puppy Scholarship - Monthly |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Puppy Scholarship - One-Time |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Puppy Pal |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Kinderpup |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Mum & Pups Fund |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Organization Scholarship |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs breeds, raises, and professionally trains three types of assistance dogs at no cost to recipients: Guide Dogs for individuals who are blind or have low vision, Autism Service Dogs for children with profound autism ages 3-7 and their families, and OSI-PTSD Service Dogs for Veterans and First Responders living with Operational Stress Injuries. Each certified dog requires two years and upwards of $35,000 to produce, with all costs covered through donations, sponsorships, grants, and fundraising events.
Product overview
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs is a nonprofit charitable organization that breeds, raises, and professionally trains three types of assistance dogs: Guide Dogs for individuals who are blind or have low vision, Autism Service Dogs for children with autism ages 3-7, and OSI-PTSD Service Dogs for Veterans and First Responders. The organization operates several volunteer programs including Puppy Raising, Adult Dog Boarding, and Breeding Dog care, supported by a Puppy Sponsorship donor program. Major annual fundraising events include the Ties & Tails Gala and the Golf for Guide Dogs Tournament. All services are provided free of charge to recipients, with each certified dog requiring two years and upwards of $35,000 to produce. The organization is accredited by both the International Guide Dog Federation (since 2001) and Assistance Dogs International (since 2008).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Alberta Guide Dogs: Division providing Guide Dog services to citizens of Alberta
- Autism Support Dogs
- VICD Service Dogs
Products and services
- Guide Dogs Professionally trained Guide Dogs for individuals who are blind or have low vision, enabling safe and independent navigation of surroundings. Dogs are provided at no cost to qualified recipients (adults and children 13+) in British Columbia and Alberta.
- Autism Service Dogs Trained service dogs for children with profound autism ages 3-7 and their families, providing increased safety, emotional support, and improved participation in education and social activities. Provided at no cost to qualified recipients.
- OSI-PTSD Service Dogs Operational Stress Injury (OSI) / Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) service dogs for Veterans and First Responders, providing tools to reclaim their place in the community and rebuild their lives. Provided at no cost to qualified recipients across British Columbia and Alberta.
- Puppy Sponsorship Program Donor sponsorship program allowing individuals, companies, and organizations to sponsor a puppy throughout its training journey, receiving photos, updates, and recognition. Tiers include Puppy Pal ($150 one-time), Kinderpup ($50 one-time), Puppy Scholarship ($20/month or $350 one-time), Mum & Pups Fund ($1,000 one-time), and Organization Scholarship ($1,400 one-time or $75/month).
Quantifiable outcome
- 396 total graduates and 222 active teams serving 76 communities across BC and Alberta
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use BC & Alberta Guide Dogs
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- Rotary Club of TsawwassenmajorTsawwassen Rotary Club made a generous donation of $50,000 to support the Capital Campaign for the new Breeding & Training Centre in Ladner, BC. This significant contribution supports the organization's mission to provide guide and service dogs free of charge.
- PurinacoreMajor food sponsor providing dog food for the breeding and training programs. Listed as a key supporter on the organization's website.
- Province of British ColumbiacoreProvincial government sponsor supporting the organization's operations in British Columbia.
- Province of AlbertacoreProvincial government sponsor supporting the organization's operations in Alberta.
- British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Association (BCPFFA) and Burn FundcoreVICD Service Dogs, a division of BC & Alberta Guide Dogs, placed OSI Dogs Ferus and Benji with the BCPFFA and Burn Fund. The dogs support burn survivors and assist firefighters with mental health needs.
- Edmonton Police ServicecoreEdmonton Police Service received Blaise, Alberta's first Operational Stress Intervention Dog placed within a police organization, on April 14, 2025.
- Calgary Police ServicescoreCalgary Police Services partnered with BC & Alberta Guide Dogs and participated in a 7-hour rowing fundraiser with Wounded Warriors Canada for mental health advocacy.
- Wounded Warriors CanadacoreMental health advocacy organization that partnered with Calgary Police Services and BC & Alberta Guide Dogs for fundraising supporting Trauma Exposed Professionals.
- Bard on the BeachminorBard on the Beach partnered with BC & Alberta Guide Dogs for a cross-promotional event on June 30, providing socialization opportunities for dogs in training.
- London DrugscoreMajor sponsor of the 27th Annual Golf for Guide Dogs Tournament.
- Tsawwassen SpringscoreVenue sponsor for Ties & Tails Gala and Golf for Guide Dogs events.
- WestJetcoreEvent sponsor for Ties & Tails Gala 2026.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves13 records
Expansion highlights6 records
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Seeing Eye: Oldest guide dog school in the world, based in New Jersey. Trains Guide Dogs for blind individuals and provides a 4-week in-residence training program. Comparable nonprofit, IGDF/ADI accredited, donor-funded, free-to-recipient model.
- Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind: Canadian guide dog school in Manotick, Ontario, providing Guide Dogs and Mobility Service Dogs free of charge to Canadians. Closest functional peer for the guide-dog vertical — comparable accredited nonprofit model, similar training cycle, donation-funded.
- Guide Dogs for the Blind: A large US guide dog school providing Guide Dogs, Autism Service Dogs, and K9 Buddy Dogs to clients across the US free of charge. Directly comparable nonprofit model: breeds, raises, and professionally trains assistance dogs, fully reliant on donations and volunteers, accredited by IGDF and ADI.
- Mira Foundation: Quebec-based nonprofit providing guide dogs, service dogs, and facility dogs free of charge across Canada. Comparable Canadian service-dog nonprofit, ADI accredited, multi-program offering, donation-funded — relevant peer for national expansion benchmarking.
- Leader Dogs for the Blind: Michigan-based nonprofit providing Guide Dogs, GPS training, and orientation/mobility services. Comparable accredited guide dog nonprofit, donor-funded, free-to-recipient, with multi-decade operational history.
- Canine Companions for Independence: Large US nonprofit providing service dogs, hearing dogs, and skilled companion dogs free of charge to people with disabilities. Comparable multi-program nonprofit, ADI accredited, volunteer puppy raiser model, 2-year training cycle.
- Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS): BC-based service dog organization breeding and training accredited assistance dogs for individuals with physical disabilities, autism, and PTSD. Most geographically proximate peer; comparable accredited nonprofit in the same province, serving overlapping client populations.
- National Service Dogs: Canadian nonprofit in Cambridge, Ontario, training service dogs for autism, PTSD, and mobility assistance. Comparable nonprofit service-dog provider serving Canadian populations, with similar volunteer-raiser model and ADI accreditation.
- Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides: Canadian service dog school in Oakville, Ontario, training Dog Guides across multiple programs (vision, hearing, autism, mobility, seizure, diabetic alert). Most direct Canadian peer — comparable nonprofit structure, IGDF/ADI accredited, multi-program offering, free placement, donation-funded.
Emerging players
- Wounded Warriors Canada: Canadian mental health charity serving Veterans and First Responders with PTSD/OSI. Not a service-dog organization itself, but a current BC & Alberta Guide Dogs partner and complementary mental-health support provider for overlapping recipient populations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs social profiles
Digital presenceBC & Alberta Guide Dogs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about BC & Alberta Guide Dogs
What does BC & Alberta Guide Dogs do?
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs breeds, raises, and professionally trains three types of assistance dogs at no cost to recipients: Guide Dogs for individuals who are blind or have low vision, Autism Service Dogs for children with profound autism ages 3-7 and their families, and OSI-PTSD Service Dogs for Veterans and First Responders living with Operational Stress Injuries. Each certified dog requires two years and upwards of $35,000 to produce, with all costs covered through donations, sponsorships, grants, and fundraising events.
Is BC & Alberta Guide Dogs a public or private company?
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was BC & Alberta Guide Dogs founded?
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is BC & Alberta Guide Dogs based?
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs is headquartered in Delta, Canada, in the North America region.
How does BC & Alberta Guide Dogs make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are puppy Sponsorship Programs, government Funding and event Fundraising.
Who are BC & Alberta Guide Dogs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Seeing Eye, Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Mira Foundation, Leader Dogs for the Blind, Canine Companions for Independence, Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS), National Service Dogs and Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides. Wounded Warriors Canada is listed as an emerging player.
Does BC & Alberta Guide Dogs have an API?
No public API is recorded for BC & Alberta Guide Dogs.
What industry is BC & Alberta Guide Dogs in?
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs's product category is Assistance Dog Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDALAGAK, Service & Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Accommodations Management, with a secondary code of BPAGAIAA, Animal Shelters & Adoption Services. Its NAICS code is 81291 and its SIC code is 8300.