About Pilot Dogs

 

We help inspire and empower those in need to navigate the world with greater independence, safety, and dignity.

We Transform Lives

Pilot Dogs was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1950, and is conveniently located in the historic Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. 

Our mission is to provide expertly-trained guide dogs, orientation and mobility training, and other valuable services free of charge to those in need, inspiring and empowering them to navigate the world with greater independence, safety, and dignity.

Pilot Dogs is a 100% donor-funded organization, so the generous donations of time and money from the public allow us to continue providing these services at no cost to the people that we serve, which include military veterans, individuals who are legally blind, and students in our school resource program.

A woman stands at a curb with her guide dog on her left, a black standard poodle.
A smiling man in a suit and tie sits on a bench next to his new guide dog, a cream-colored Standard poodle.

Four Paws. Two Feet. One Team.

We Love People
Since our founding day, we have committed to helping people expand their world. We push, challenge, and support our students because we believe they are capable of incredible things.

We Love Dogs
Dogs are amazing animals capable of warming hearts, healing wounds, and transforming lives. A world-class Pilot Dog can expand the life of someone who is blind or visually impaired, providing freedom, self-confidence, and safety.

Together, students and their dogs make an unbeatable team.

We Depend on You

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we receive no state or federal funds - we are 100% donor-funded. Without the support and donations from caring people like you, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. 

Pilot Dogs is accredited by both the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International, which means that we meet (and continuously strive to exceed) the stringent standards of both of these organizations in the areas of dog care and training, facility safety and cleanliness, matching dogs with students, and so much more!

A group of six people stands in front of a projector screen displaying the Pilot Dogs logo. The man on the far left is holding a large check, and a golden retriever in harness sits in front of the group.
A smiling man in a suit and tie sits on a bench next to his new guide dog, a cream-colored Standard poodle.

Lions Club Partnership

Since our humble beginnings, numerous Lions Clubs have donated their valuable time and money to our mission of enriching the lives of those in need.

Lions Clyde R. Tipton and Dwight Swepston, members of the Tri-Village Lions Club, presented a motion in 1960 at the State Convention of the Ohio Lions to officially adopt Pilot Dogs as a state project. That motion turned into reality, and Pilot Dogs came to be known as “Lions Pilot Dogs” by Lions Clubs International.

Over 500 clubs now champion our service to the blind, and we are grateful for their continued support!