The Social Fund of Russia (SFR) assists visually impaired citizens by providing guide dogs, covering pet food expenses and financing veterinary care. Individuals from visual disability groups I and II who are over the age of 18 have the right to a guide dog.
A disabled person or their representative have to apply for a guide dog to a Social Fund client office at the place of their registration or actual residence.
The application have to be accompanied by a completed questionnaire to determine the disabled person's specific needs, such as if they can walk on their own or have to use a means of transportation; where they intend to take their dog to: quiet or busy streets. The questionnaire also clarifies whether the dog is going to live in an apartment, an outdoor enclosure, or a private house.
Guide dogs go through standard training, while each of them additionally acquires skills required for the specific disabled person. The future owner's overall health condition is also of importance, determining whether they will be able to handle a fairly large dog.
The dogs are trained by the Russian School for Guide Dog Training of the All Russia Association of the Blind. The breeds best suited for the challenging duties of a guide dog are Labrador retriever and golden retriever. All dogs without exception are neutered.
Dog training process usually takes six to eight months and, considering the waiting list, getting a four-legged assistant will require some waiting. The Social Fund will, of course, notify the applicant when their turn comes and tell them where they or their representative can collect their dog. The kennel trains 65 dogs for the Social Fund every year. 48 clients of the Fund have gotten their guide dogs since 2025 began.
The owner is not only responsible for properly feeding the dog; they should also regularly take it for vet check-ups. The cost of that is not negligible. That is why the Social Fund assigns guide dog owners a special benefit that amounted to RUB 37,832.53 this year.
Currently, a public discussion of a new draft Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation, set to come into force next year is underway. It plans to introduce electronic dog food certificates, similar to those that are already in effect for many other products intended for people with disabilities.
The explanatory note to the draft Resolution states that the maximum cost of dog food purchased using an electronic certificate should be RUB 60,838.20. The amount will be adjusted to inflation every year on February 1.
Disabled people will be able to use certificates to buy certain brands of dog food. Certificates will be valid for 12 months. No application is required for the certificate; it will be issued automatically once a positive decision is made regarding the guide dog feeding and veterinary care payments.