Joint commitment to client services and ethics strengthens human-dog partnerships for assistance
and guide dog teams.
The world’s two leading international organizations for assistance and guide dogs have underlined their joint commitment to providing the best possible services and ethics for the people they serve.
Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) have issued a joint statement aimed at strengthening relationships between member organizations and their clients.
“Providing services ethically and with integrity is of paramount importance to our organizations,” said ADI Board Chair Danny Vancoppernolle. “The people we serve are the reason for our mission and we greatly value our relationship with them. We are people- centered organizations, and we must never forget that.”
The joint statement, which was developed in collaboration with experienced professionals in the guide and assistance dog industry, is backed by the Boards of both organizations. It follows a similar move last year when both ADI and IGDF reaffirmed their commitment to the health, welfare and ethical treatment of dogs trained by their members.
“This joint statement demonstrates the continuing commitment of both organizations to ensure the best possible relationships between our staff, the people we work with and the dogs we train,” said Bill Thornton, Chair of the IGDF Board of Directors. “We want to send a strong signal to all our members: IGDF and ADI are of one mind on these issues.”
Described as a “living document”, the statement is expected to evolve over time in line with new evidence and practice. It sets out a number of principles including putting people first; the empowerment and autonomy of clients; advocacy and access; inclusion and diversity; and life- time support for both clients and their dogs.
Both organizations also underline their commitment to the principle of nothing about us without us. “It is only by listening to our clients and understanding their needs that we can truly gain insight into what they expect to get out of a working relationship with an assistance or guide dog,” added Vancoppernolle.
“We have a responsibility to our clients to create successful, equal partnerships between the people we serve and their guide and assistance dogs,” said Thornton. “IGDF and ADI have been working for many years to put the health, wellbeing and ethical treatment of both people and dogs front and center. Our new joint new position statement takes our human-dog partnerships to the next level.”
For further information or to arrange interviews please contact ADI Executive Director Chris Diefenthaler or IGDF Company Secretary David Maynard. Download the full statement here.