Click the play button on the video window to the right to see the storyThe Eye Dog Foundation for the Blind, a California-based non-profit group that operates a training facility in Phoenix, has filed a lawsuit against dozens of volunteers who are refusing to give back their dogs.
The non-profit group places dogs with families who volunteer to foster the dogs until they're ready to be placed with the blind.
But the volunteer puppy raisers say the foundation is in turmoil. They allege the dogs have been neglected by the foundation. They say dogs have been routinely left alone at the training facility with no food and no one to look after them.
Bob and Gail Stouthamer are named in the suit and say, “It just doesn’t make sense.”
The Stouthamers have helped raise Jenny, a three-year-old german shepherd. They're refusing to give Jenny back to the foundation and say, “Our concern is for these dogs and their well-being and the blind they should go to.”
The Stouthamers are not alone. The lawsuit names 31 "puppy raisers" and four former employees of the foundation. Many of them say they're concerned about what will happen to the dogs.
“My fear is where does she go? Where does she wind up? What happens to the dog?” says Bob Stouthamer. "These dogs will become kennel dogs and it would be such a shame."
Volunteers say the foundation has failed to place a single dog with the blind in the last two years.
"It has been some time, but certainly not two years," says Glenn Hotchkiss who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the foundation.
Hotchkiss says, "We admit there may have been some problems in the past," but says those problems have been addressed. "It is now fully staffed there are trainers on site, there are staff on site to care for the dogs."
Hotchkiss says its an open and shut case, "There is no doubt whatsoever." He says the dogs belong to the foundation.
Since he filed the lawsuit, Hotchkiss says at least two puppy raisers are making arrangements to return the dogs.
