Collection Dogs Valuable funding

The iconic status of our coin collection dogs has grown over the past fifty years. Today, they generate more funds than ever before. There are several thousand hardworking collection dogs throughout metropolitan and regional Victoria. Their income contributes directly to our specialised Orientation & Mobility training programs.

We receive less than 10% of our funding from the government and rely heavily on the generosity of individual donors, supporters and businesses. Every individual who donates to our collection dogs makes a substantial contribution to our work in helping Victorians with low vision.

Guide dog

Collection Dogs Could you provide a home for a collection dog?

The collection dog program enables businesses to support Guide Dogs Victoria at no cost, aside from a small amount of counter or floor space on site.

Our collection dogs are all Golden Labradors, labelled with the Guide Dogs Victoria logo, our phone number and website address. Any other colour dogs belong to another agency that has no connection with Guide Dogs Victoria.

To organise an on-site collection dog:

Collection Dogs Large collection dogs

Our large collection dogs are floor standing and approximately 85 centimetres in height. They are best suited to high volume traffic areas to capture passing trade. For example:

  • Supermarkets
  • Garden centres
  • Clubs
  • Pubs
  • Pet shops
  • Large variety and hardware stores

Collection Dogs Small collection dogs

Our small collection dogs are approximately 28 centimetres in height. They are designed to stand on counters adjacent to the point-of-sale in hotels, convenience stores, newsagents, butchers, pharmacies, vet clinics, groomers, and other small shops.

Collection Dogs Major Partners

We would like to acknowledge the generous support of our major Collection Dog retail partners:

  • Woolworths
  • Coles
  • FoodWorks
  • IGA
  • Village Cinemas
  • 7–Eleven

We also have Collection Dogs in 272 Hotels across the state.

Blonde Guide Dog looking back

Collection Dogs Maintenance

Collection dogs are emptied regularly. Large collection dogs are emptied, cleaned and maintained on site. Small collection dogs are replaced on a new-for-old basis, with the existing dog removed and a new replacement supplied.

Our collectors present an official Guide Dogs Victoria identification badge before removing the dog or any of its contents. After the contents are counted, an appreciation letter and receipt is supplied. This letter can be displayed to show your involvement to the community.

Please join the many businesses who support the important work of Guide Dogs Victoria by installing your own collection dog. You can help provide the gift of freedom and independence to Victorians with low vision or blindness. And you can even name your dog!

For further information contact Guide Dogs Victoria:

Guide dog