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Facility Dog Visitation Program

Our specially trained Facility Dogs can provide companionship and support in a variety of organisations.

A guide dog wearing a harness sits beside a person in black trousers and heels, next to a counter with large pink letters spelling hello. The dog looks forward with a friendly expression.

How we can support your organisation

What is a Facility Dog?

A yellow Labrador wearing an orange Guide Dogs vest lies on a grey carpet in front of a large green headspace Mount Barker sign inside an office.

Facility Dogs meet the standards of Assistance Dogs International and can be placed in schools, courts, airports, health facilities, and more, to provide a calming presence and emotional support.

Facility Dogs can be placed permanently or as part of a visitation program, depending on what best suits you.

Our Visitation Program and Pat & Chat Program have been designed to offer organisations flexible ways to enjoy similar benefits of permanently placed dogs without the long-term commitment or barriers to placement.

A group of eleven people, some standing and some kneeling, pose and smile inside a bank office. In front, a yellow guide dog wearing an orange vest lies on the carpeted floor. The bank's logo is visible on the wall behind them.

What is the Visitation Program?

A program to suit your needs.

The Visitation Program provides a flexible alternative to our traditional Facility Dog model, where dogs are permanently placed with an organisation and managed by dedicated handlers. Instead, this program provides visits with a highly trained handler with the ongoing care and responsibility for the dog remaining with us, whilst still providing the same wonderful benefits of having a dog to provide support.

All participating dogs in our Facility Dog Visitation Program are trained to the same rigorous standards as our Guide, Assistance, and Facility Dogs. This ensures they meet the highest benchmarks for safety and behaviour.

We would also work closely with your team to ensure each visit provides meaningful engagement and long-term benefits.

A group of eight smiling adults, mostly women, pose indoors with a guide dog lying at the front. The people wear business attire and stand in an office with modern décor and a purple tree mural on the wall.

What's included

A snapshot of the program.

Our Visitation Program provides one-hour sessions with flexible scheduling to suit your organisation’s needs (daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, or ad hoc).

Pricing:

  • Adhoc/ Quarterly: $600 per session
  • Weekly/Fortnightly (12 sessions): $400 per session
  • Longer-term visitation programs can be tailored to your needs, with pricing based on the number of sessions, locations, and total hours required per week
  • Includes: Travel, one dog, one handler
Three people in high-visibility work uniforms smile in an office next to a yellow Labrador guide dog wearing an orange vest. Two of them are stroking the dog, and all appear happy.

Greater flexibility when you want it

Pats & Chats

The Pats & Chats Program is similar to the Visitation Program, although less structured.

This option can provide visits as a once-off or on an ad-hoc basis.

Our Pats & Chats Program is $600 per session and is available in a variety of settings, including but not limited to schools, mental health organisations, emergency services and first responders, hospitals, aged care facilities, corporate offices, and more.

The Facility Dogs in our Pats & Chats Program are accredited Assistance Dogs and can bring comfort and companionship, allowing people to better engage with your organisation.

What are the next steps?

Make an enquiry.

To find out more or to request a Facility Dog visit or Pat & Chat, please contact info@guidedogs.org.au or call 1800 757 738.

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