BC & Alberta Guide Dogs

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

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

• Guide dog training
• Autism service dogs
• PTSD service dogs
• Assistance dog services
• Service dog placement

Headquarters

HQ city

Delta

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Government Funding: Federal and provincial government grants including the $2.7 million Enabling Accessibility Fund for the new Breeding & Training Centre.
4. Event Fundraising: Annual events including Ties & Tails Gala, Golf for Guide Dogs Tournament, and Trivia Night generate significant fundraising revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Rotary Club of TsawwassenmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTsawwassen 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.
• PurinacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor food sponsor providing dog food for the breeding and training programs. Listed as a key supporter on the organization's website.
• Province of British ColumbiacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvincial government sponsor supporting the organization's operations in British Columbia.
• Province of AlbertacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvincial government sponsor supporting the organization's operations in Alberta.
• British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Association (BCPFFA) and Burn FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVICD 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 ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdmonton Police Service received Blaise, Alberta's first Operational Stress Intervention Dog placed within a police organization, on April 14, 2025.
• Calgary Police ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalgary 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 CanadacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMental health advocacy organization that partnered with Calgary Police Services and BC & Alberta Guide Dogs for fundraising supporting Trauma Exposed Professionals.
• Bard on the BeachminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBard 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 DrugscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor of the 27th Annual Golf for Guide Dogs Tournament.
• Tsawwassen SpringscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue sponsor for Ties & Tails Gala and Golf for Guide Dogs events.
• WestJetcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for Ties & Tails Gala 2026.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct 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

• Xx.com/bcguidedogs
• Facebookfacebook.com/bcandalbertaguidedogservices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bc-guide-dogs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BC & Alberta Guide Dogs