They help people cross streets, detect obstacles, show the way, and assist their owners with everyday tasks. Guide dogs have a wide range of skills - but above all they give their owners one thing: more independence in everyday life. But what does it take for a dog to become a guide dog? And why can PET lids help fund the training of more guide dogs?

Miriam Cadalbert from the Swiss School for Guide Dogs for the Blind in Allschwil knows the answers to these and many other questions. Since 1972, dogs have been bred, raised and trained here to become four-legged helpers. 

“In 2024, 87 puppies were born here,’ says Miriam Cadalbert. Not all animals are suitable as guide dogs. We also train assistance dogs, autism service dogs and social support dogs. Social support dogs are trained to visit schools, retirement homes, nursing homes or other institutions with their holders. The rest of the time, the dogs live as normal family dogs. 

But back to the beginning of an Allschwil Labrador's life: 'The puppies stay at the school with their mother until they are 10 weeks old, then they are placed with foster families,' says Miriam Cadalbert.

 

Dogs stay in the family for around 16 to 24 months

Foster families have a wonderful but challenging role. They take on the basic and early training of the animals, knowing that they will not live with them forever.  When they are about 1.5 years old, the dogs return to our school. There we decide which training they are suitable for, based on their talents and character. For the foster families, this is a project that is close to their hearts, even if they only have a limited amount of time with the dogs: 'They are aware that they make an important contribution to people with disabilities. There are many foster carers who have already looked after several dogs. The school covers the costs of food and vet visits. Our foster carers also receive close support and regular visits. We are always available to answer questions.’ This also applies to people who might consider becoming a foster carer. 

A puppy costs around 5,000 Swiss francs before it moves in with a foster family. In recent years, however, the funding for one puppy a year has come from a different source. The sale of PET lids. For every kilo of lids sold to a recycling company, the foundation receives 30 Rappen.  

 

A volunteer brought lid collecting to Switzerland

“The idea originally came from the Netherlands,’ explains Cadalbert. They have been collecting PET lids for a good cause for years. Martinus Aarts, a volunteer who was himself born in the Netherlands, brought the idea to Switzerland and found a recycling company to work with,’ says Cadalbert. Today, there are collection points all over Switzerland, run by hard-working volunteers. SWISS is also involved at its main site in Kloten by collecting lids at various collection points. This initiative was launched by the Help Alliance VOLU Team Zurich. Many other companies and private individuals have also joined the initiative. “It is a great feeling to have so many organisations supporting us. For us, these are additional volunteers who donate,” says Cadalbert. 

For those who want to get involved privately and collect PET lids, there are several ways to drop them off. “We have a list of different collection points on our website. For example, some Top CC shops, boutiques or certain Jumbo shops.” If you are on the meta-platform Facebook, you will find a virtual group dedicated to collecting lids and giving tips on how to collect and return them. The Swiss School for Guide Dogs for the Blind Allschwil is not the only one to accept lid donations. The Foundation ‘Osterschweizerische Blindenführhundeschule (OBS)’ is also happy to receive donated lids.

 

Dogs are handed over free of charge

The forecast for this year's lid collection looks good, says Miriam Cadalbert. ‘We are in a good position.’ Higher lid donations benefit the schools. Although it costs CHF 5,000 to finance a puppy, the subsequent training is many times more expensive. ‘A trained guide dog costs our school around 65,000 francs.’ 

The school gives the dogs to their future owners free of charge and also pays for the animal's upkeep.  Either way, the dogs always remain the property of the school. ‘The well-being of our dogs is our top priority.’ Before the dogs retire, a decision is made as to whether the animal will be boarded by the disabled person or placed with a new family for the rest of its life.