Additional Volunteer Expectations

Standards of Conduct
Any conduct by Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) employees, volunteers, or clients that is unsafe, unethical, or illegal will not be tolerated. Following GDB’s Values and Behaviors and the Puppy Raising Guiding Principles is essential. Types of conduct that could constitute grounds for immediate dismissal include harassment; physical violence; illegal acts such as theft, use or possession of illegal drugs or weapons; sexual activity; and inhumane treatment of a dog. This list is not all-inclusive. GDB puppy raising volunteers must complete a Puppy Raising Volunteer Application and agree to all Volunteer Terms of Service listed within. Failure to comply with any aspect of GDB’s policies and guidelines can lead to the suspension or termination of one’s volunteer relationship, future invitations to GDB events including graduation, and/or loss of dog adoption privileges with GDB.

Protected Information
GDB will not obtain protected information prior to making decisions regarding qualifications for volunteering. Protected information includes date of birth, marital status, name of spouse, spouse’s occupation or place or length of employment, number of children and ages, whether childcare can be arranged for children, ancestry, national origin or race, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, union or political affiliations, or any other information that may become protected by local, state, or federal laws. GDB may collect some of this information only after an application has been approved.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
GDB is committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In recruiting puppy raising volunteers, unless an individual has a previous history with GDB that would disqualify them from participating, all applicants will be considered. GDB believes that all people are entitled to equal opportunity under the law. GDB, its staff, and its volunteers may not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, medical condition, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other consideration that has been made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.

Harassment and Discrimination Policy
GDB prohibits harassment and discrimination and is committed to providing an environment free of sexual harassment and other unlawful harassment based on the actual or perceived of race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status (including registered domestic partnership status), sex and gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), gender identity and gender expression (including transgender individuals who are transitioning, have transitioned, or are perceived to be transitioning to the gender with which they identify), age (40 and over), sexual orientation, Civil Air Patrol status, military and veteran status, and any other consideration protected by federal, state, or local law (collectively referred to as "protected characteristics"). GDB respects each individual’s right to self-identify their gender, name and/or pronoun, including gender-neutral pronouns. All forms of harassment or discrimination based on these characteristics, including verbal, visual, or physical, are prohibited. GDB prohibits retaliation against any person for reporting or filing a complaint.

Confidentiality
GDB volunteers may have access to confidential and proprietary information. One must use all reasonable care to protect or otherwise prevent disclosing or revealing such information.

Some examples include:

• Client/student information
• Personal information about GDB employees, volunteers, donors, applicants, and clients
• Dog breeding records (health concerns, pedigrees)
• Individual or group donor information
• Administrative or financial documents
• Other GDB information you are not authorized to disclose

Conflict of Interest
GDB’s volunteers must avoid situations that could be construed as a conflict of interest, or as unethical conduct.

Some examples include:

• Engaging in business conduct damaging to GDB’s relationship.
• Breeding, selling, boarding, or giving away GDB dogs for personal gain or influence.

In addition, volunteers may not enter into any contract in the name of GDB without previous approval by their puppy raising field manager (PFM) or another authorized GDB Puppy Raising staff member.

Marketing
For information regarding the use of GDB materials, including the logo, see Marketing & Social Media.