What happens to licensed therapy dogs when their owners die?

There are some organizations, like Canine Companions, and Seeing Eye Dogs who usually can find other owners for these now-retired dogs. I don't think they are ever placed with new person as working dog. It is very common for a family member to take over, in my general practice. read more

Guide dogs are trained to lead out in front whereas I need a dog who will walk next to a child. The guide dog people think the level of re-training plus whatever the reason it failed would make it way too hard to try to train one if their failed dogs to the role I want to train it to. It's a moot point now anyway. I'm picking up our new dog tomorrow. read more

We "placed" (that's the term rescuers use for finding an animal a home) both dogs with the same owner a few months later. This owner happened to be both our friend and neighbor and this happily meant we still got to see plenty of Willi and Joey. Now the bad news. Over the weekend, Joey got run over by a drunk driver. The loss was devastating. read more

Those tend to be handled the same way every other dog is when the owner dies. (in other word, being from particular organizations helps, be licensed does not.) If you are worried about your own death, talk now to rescue people in your area. In a city, there will be several breed specific rescuers, and general rescuers as well. read more