The French Federation of Guide Dog Associations (FFAC) is a charity gathering guide dogs schools in France. Our common aim: provide the visually impaired with guide dogs as a mean for a safe independence and a better integration in society.

Mission and objectives :

• promote the Guide Dog on a national basis,
• co-ordinate and help the Schools in their work, subscribing to a federal Code of Practise,
• provide Guide Dog Instructors with a vocational training, state-certified since April 2002,
• obtain a legal status for guide dogs from national authorities,
• ensure guide dogs access rights,
• the Federation also has an important harmonisation and information role.

All Member Schools provide guide dogs for free to the visually impaired persons able to use them. They exclusively live on donations and legacies.

The French Federation and Member Schools are all members of the International Guide Dog Federation. We are also involved in the action of the European Blind Union.

Statistics :

• There are currently 1,200 units at work in France.
• 3,000 guide dogs were given since 1967.
• 140 guide dogs are offered each year
• 100 puppies are provided by our Breedind Centre
• 60 instructors are employed.

French legislation for Guide Dog Schools

The French Federation managed to have the first access rights to public places for visually impaired persons with guide dogs voted from 1982 onwards.

A huge step forward was achieved in 2002 when the FFAC GDI diploma became state-certified: the state authorities could hardly recognise the curriculum whilst denying guide dogs any legitimacy.

As an election campaign promise by President Chirac, a new law on disabled persons’ rights came to life in 2005. The French Federation and the Users’ Association were consulted throughout its realisation to define national standards for a guide dog school to have an official label so as to allow the blind persons who receive their guide dog from such a school to have a monthly grant for the care of the dog. (However the schools that will not get the label will not be prevented from producing guide dogs.)

Here are the main criteria for a Guide Dog School to have the official label:

• Existence of an agreement entrusting the dog to each recipient of the grant for animal aid, in order to guaranty the handicapped person a follow-up of the dog ensuring the security and efficiency of the aid.
• Existence of a document providing detailed information on the selection and the origin of the puppies;
• For each dog, an individual record of veterinary health and temperament, regularly kept throughout the assistance lifetime of the dog;
• Puppies must be placed free of charge with a puppy-walking family for at least 10 months for a guide dog and 16 months for an assistance dog;
• The dogs must be trained for at least 6 months in view of assisting persons;
• Ensure a re-homing of quality for the dogs once they have finished working as assistance dogs for the handicapped persons;
• Employ guide dog or assistance dog instructors holding the official qualification for that purpose, registered by legal decree;
• Have an allocation committee in charge of studying applications for dogs and of deciding, on the applicants’ ability of using and taking care of an assistance dog or a guide dog, after an interview with the applicants and under provision of a medical certificate dated from less than 3 months. This committee must include at least a physician, a qualified dog instructor and, for guide dogs training centres, an Orientation and Mobility instructor holding the official O&M degree for visually impaired persons delivered by the State Secretary in charge of the Handicapped Persons;
• Only allocate an assistance or a guide dog to the persons holding an invalidity card under Article L. 241-3 of Social Welfare and Families Act (ie usually more than 80% visually impaired);
• Organise, before any official allocation, a matching course for the visually impaired person and the dog, no shorter than 2 weeks. Concerning the allocation of a guide dog, one of those 2 weeks must take place where the visually impaired person actually lives; Obey the technical criteria defined by decrees of the State Secretary in charge of the Handicapped Persons and the State Secretary of Agriculture and Fishery.

References :
Law 2005-102 from 11 February, 2005 on the Equality of Rights and Chances, the Integration and the Citizenship of the Handicapped Persons
Decree 2005-1776 from 30 December, 2005 concerning the labels of assistance dogs and guide dogs training centres

FAQ'S :

What are the requirements to bring my guide dog to France?
France is now officially a rabies-free state, hence fairly binding regulations to enter the French territory...
Unless you come from a rabies-free country yourself, you should prepare your first journey to France at least 4 months in advance.

What will be required?
A microchip or a tattoo must identify your guide dog.
You need a health certificate executed by a certified veterinarian no more than 10 days before arrival into France. It requires the following:

• The dog shows no clinical sign of disease.
• He /She has not been in contact with rabid animals during the past 6 months nor will be in contact with animals of lesser sanitary status until arrival.
• The dog has had shots for canine distemper, viral hepatitis, leptospirosis and canine parvovirosis.
• He /She has been vaccinated against rabies and the vaccine is currently valid.
• If you come from a country not free from rabies: your guide dog must have undergone the rabies neutralising antibody titration test (a blood test) at least 30 days after vaccination and 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.

A bilingual version of the certificate is available on: www.diplomatie.gouv.fr . Don't forget to bring your guide dog's vaccination certificates and the results of the titration test with you! That's it; enjoy your visit!

What can I use the Eurostar to get to France with my guide dog?
Yes. The Eurostar Company has eventually accepted allowing guide dogs on their trains, including those to and from Britain. The measure has been implemented since August 2003.

Where can I go with my guide dog in France? Can I use public transports?
The new Law of 11 Fébruary 2005 guarantees free access for guide dog users to all places and facilities open to the general public: public buildings and transports, shops, hotels, restaurants, museums, etc. Sanitary restrictions limit access to rooms and care units in hospitals, kitchens in catering facilities, etc. It may also be requested that guide dogs be muzzled in air transports.
You can be required to show your disability card and a document identifying your dog as guide dog.
However it may happen that your interlocutors are unaware of guide dogs access rights. The best attitude is to inform them, a smile being your best advocate!

How will my guide dog be accepted?
Guide dogs are usually welcome as they are much admired. However free access does not mean absence of rules. Your guide dog could be denied access if he/she does not behave.
For instance:

• He/she is expected to relieve himself/herself in the curb, not on the pavement.
• Do not let him/her run all over the place in restaurants or on the beach, jump on the seats in taxis or sleep on your bed in hotels!

What can I do if access is unduly refused?
If negotiation proves unfruitful, call for the police (dial 17) so the trespassing is recorded and report the case to the French Association of Guide Dog Users. Refusing access to a place open to the public is repressed by a € 305 fine.

Where can I get the address of a school in Japan / Portugal / etc?
The information is available on the International Federation Website : www.ifgdsb.org.uk .