Pine Tree Guide Dog Users (PTGDU) is a nonprofit membership organization serving Maine’s blind and visually-impaired residents who are partnered with specially-trained guide dogs.
PTGDU members participate in a wide variety of opportunities and activities intended to promote the inclusion and acceptance of people with guide dogs who live in or visit the state of Maine.
As part of its ongoing mission, PTGDU educates the general public about What it’s like to Live and Work with a Guide Dog.
Likewise, PTGDU assists business owners, housing and transportation providers, employers, medical professionals, and others in understanding their Rights and Responsibilities when it comes to individuals with guide dogs.
The organization also works with local and federal legislators and law enforcement officials to help Build Safer and More Accessible Communities for Maine’s guide dog teams.
Whether you’re a student gathering information for a school project, a business owner trying to determine how to identify a legitimate service animal, a legislator seeking facts about Maine’s guide dog teams, a blind person wishing to learn more about what it’s like to partner with a guide dog, a current or former handler looking for support and fellowship, or anyone else who has an interest in guide dogs, PTGDU is here to help.
Pine Tree Guide Dog Users is a registered nonprofit under IRS section 501(c)(3). Founded in 1997, the organization’s mission is to promote complete acceptance of guide dog teams in all aspects of life.