FAQ
- Information on bringing a Guide Dog into France, with thanks from FFAC
- I want to visit the UK and bring my Guide Dog into the Country, what are the quarantine issues.
- Accommodations for Guide Dogs
- Full Membership applications
- If I apply for membership what will the costs and other implications be to my school?
- What happens to our membership application if we fail to meet the criteria set in the standards?
- What are the “Standards” and how will we know if we can comply?
- Export of Guide Dog Puppies?
- I wish to travel to France via ferry with my Guide Dog. Will I be allowed to keep my Guide Dog with me?
- I need a vet at the French channel crossings
1. Bringing a Guide Dog into France
France has been declared a rabies-free state. This is good news, but our dog’s access to the French territory is now subject to more binding regulations. Unless you come from a rabies-free country yourself, it is now necessary to prepare your first journey to France at least 4 months in advance.
The following must apply:
- Your Guide Dog or Seeing Eye Dog must be identified, by a microchip or a tattoo.
- You must bring a health certificate executed by a certified veterinarian no more than 10 days before arrival into France. It requires the following:
a) The dog shows no clinical sign of disease.
b) He /She has not been in contact with rabid animals during the past six (6) months nor will be in contact with animals of lesser sanitary status until arrival.
c) The dog has had shots for canine distemper, viral hepatitis, leptospirosis and canine parvovirosis.
d) He /She has been vaccinated against rabies and the vaccine is currently valid.
e) If you come from a country not free from rabies: your Guide Dog/Seeing Eye Dog must have undergone the rabies neutralising antibody titration test (a blood test) at least 30 days after vaccination
and three (3) months before arrival. Once performed, there is no need to renew the test if booster vaccinations have been made in due time ever since. - If you come from a rabies-free country: no other test is required.
A bilingual version of the certificate is available on:
www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/etrangers/formulaires/annexe7b.pdf.
Don’t forget to take your Guide Dog’s vaccination certificates and the results of the titration test with you.
2. UK Quarantine Issues
The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs have a very informative site - www.defra.gov.uk
Once into the site go into Wildlife and Pets' then into 'Traveling with Pets' here you will find all the information required.
3. Accommodation for Guide Dogs
http://www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk/
This website list hotels within the UK that are able to accommodate partially sighted and blind citizens. They also welcome Guide Dogs. The website also lists other helpful services for visually impaired persons in the UK.
4. Membership Information
Membership Type
Membership of the International Guide Dog Federation (“IGDF”) is only available to Guide Dog Organisations. There is only one class of Membership available, which is “Full Membership”.
Full Membership
- The Organisation must have been in operation for five years since the date the Organisation started.
- The Organisation must have produced 20 (or more) working Guide Dog and Teams.
- The Organisation must meet the minimum standards of the Federation as set out in the book entitled “Guidelines for the Organisation and Conduct of Breeding and Training Guide Dogs for use by Blind People.”
- The Organisation must undergo a satisfactory assessment by an Assessor chosen by the Accreditation Committee. The Organisation will pay an enrolment fee of £500 towards the costs of administration set up.
- All applications for Full Membership have to be reviewed by the Accreditation Committee.
- When an Organisation, which has Applicant Status, has been operating for five years and has produced 20 Guide Dog units, an application for Full Membership must be submitted to the IGDF. If the twenty-unit target has not been reached in five years, the application should be submitted as soon as twenty qualified units have been achieved.
Please note: An organisation may apply to become an Affiliate Member if it is allied to the Guide Dog industry and does not produce, train or service Guide Dogs or Guide Dog teams. An Affiliate Member is required to pay a fee and is not entitled to access Full Member entitlements (for example, they cannot: use the IGDF logo, access member sections of the website, vote on IGDF matters, etc). An Affiliate Member is not required to operationally meet the Standards and is not assessed or accredited.
Standards
These are the minimum standards to which Full Member schools should operate. Checklists have also been prepared which Assessors will use when carrying out assessments and which may also assist Member schools in monitoring progress towards achieving the minimum standards.
ASSESSMENTS
Full Membership
- The Assessment is carried out by an IGDF Assessor.
- When an Organisation applies for membership, an Assessor is sent to carry out an assessment and submit a report to the Accreditation Committee to accompany the Organisation’s application.
- The Organisation being assessed is required to provide accommodation and meals for the Assessor for the duration of the assessment (accommodation within the Organisation grounds is perfectly acceptable).
- The Accreditation Committee reviews the report and makes a recommendation to the IGDF Board which makes the decision on whether the application is successful Full Membership (5 Year Review)
(Every five years, upon the fifth anniversary of becoming a Full Member, the organisation will receive a 5 Year Review Assessment)
- The Assessment is carried out by an IGDF Assessor.
CONDITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP
A Member School is required to:
- Forward the annual subscription to the IGDF by a given deadline.
- Complete and send an Annual Report Form to the IGDF by a given deadline.
- Upon request, provide all information required in the Pre-Inspection Package, which will be sent to Schools before an Assessment.
- Settle invoices promptly.
- Notify the IGDF of any change to the nominee for the School, or of change of address, website, email, fax or telephone numbers.
PUBLICATIONS
A Newsletter consisting of contributions from Member Organisations is circulated approximately every six months. This publication is free of charge to Members. Any revisions to the Standards are automatically sent to Members.
CONFERENCE / WORKSHOP / SEMINARS
The IGDF puts on a biennial seminar hosted by one of our member organisations. The Seminar runs for 2-3 days and the lectures, workshops and poster sessions cover various topics relating to guide dog training, breeding, puppy raising, veterinary matters, fundraising, etc. Following the Seminar, lists of delegates, papers presented and question/answer sessions are provided to all Member Schools via the website.
FULL MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS
Application form for Full IGDF membership.doc
IGDF Full Membership FORM B.doc
5. Application Fees
An organisation applying for full membership will be required to pay a membership enrolment fee of £500 upon receipt of an invoice, for registration purposes. Invoices will be sent on receipt of application. Once it is established that the organisation meets the criteria of full membership, they will be invoiced £500 for their initial assessment. Should the organisation need a second assessment, they would be required to pay a further £500 to cover costs. No further fees will be required until the organisation has become a full member. Once the organisation is granted full membership they will not have to pay their annual fees until the January of the next year.
Thereafter the following annual fees will apply:
- Membership fee - £200
- Contribution to the accreditation assessment fee - £100
- Team fees - £25 per team (charged as per number of guide dog teams produced as detailed in the annual report members are required to submit each year).
Annual fees will be invoiced in January of each year.
To continue membership a full accreditation assessment must be conducted every 5 years by an IGDF assessor. During this assessment the organisation is responsible for the costs relating to the assessor’s stay, including; accommodation, meals, and transportation (excluding flight).These costs are to be paid locally, at the time of the assessment, by the organisation being assessed.
6. Application Decline
Clear, substantial breaches of the Standards over a number of issues would result in an application to join the IGDF being declined. However, experience has shown us that these situations are rare. Usually any breaches or failure to meet the Standards are in specific areas and often not sufficiently substantial to warrant exclusion from the IGDF. The IGDF strives to be inclusive and to work with organisations to help them achieve the outstanding Standards over a reasonable period of time, rather than push organisations away and reject an application.
The IGDF is committed to improving the standards of Guide Dog provision and service provided to people with vision impairment throughout the world. As a result, it has often assisted organisations in this situation to develop a plan to improve standards in the relevant areas. Their membership can then be reconsidered at a later date when the plan has been completed.
The Assessors' recommendations will be discussed with the head of the organisation or Chief Executive at the conclusion of the process which will be a guide to any improvements that should be required.
7. Standards
The standards are "Standards for the Organisation and Conduct of Breeding and Training Guide Dogs for use by Blind People."
These standards are used by the assessors as the benchmark to establish membership criteria. As such they cover a wide range of activity of a Guide Dog organisation from the organisational structure, fund raising, record keeping, along with the technical matters relating to dog health and welfare, dog and client training, organisation facilities etc. It is recognised that organisations will differ in the structure, facilities and method of delivering their services, as a result broad compliance with the guidelines is expected rather than strict adherence in all aspects.
Details the standards are regularly reviewed and updated. Current guidelines can be provided to prospective members on request.
8. Exporting Puppies
Guide Dog Puppies can be exported from the UK at 12 weeks.
Guide Dog Puppies can be exported from the US at 13 weeks
All puppies exported from around the world must be vaccinated against Rabies
9. Guide Dog on Ferry
P&O Ferries will now allow a Guide Dog access to public areas on their ships up to four hours on a crossing. After this time, you will have to take your Guide Dog to the disabled room that should be provided for you.
This four hour regulation does NOT apply for any NIGHT CROSSINGS.
When making a booking ask the booking office to make a note against your reference number that you will be travelling with your Guide Dog.
10. French Channel Vet
Please look at www.dogsaway.co.uk for information regarding Vets at FrenchChannel ports. They also have the correct paperwork to help and assist you.
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