Guide Dogs Australia and their relationship with Coles can be traced back to the 1970s when the first iconic Model Dogs were placed in Coles Supermarkets. Today they sit in hundreds of Coles stores across Australia generating much needed donations which are invested directly into our specialist mobility services, including Guide Dogs.

Coles' Model Dogs allow customers and team members to place their spare change and notes into the dogs and make a difference to the lives of people who are blind or vision impaired.

The Model Dogs are not only an important part of our fundraising program but also help raise awareness of our Guide Dog program here in WA.

Mini Dogs

Our Mini Dogs are Guide Dog shaped collection containers that stand on counters close to the point of sale.

Mini Dogs are an important part of our fundraising. We have more than 1,000 Mini Dogs all over WA, working hard in hotels and optometry clinics, corner shops and newsagents, bakeries and supermarkets, to name a few.

Hosting a Mini Dog is a great way for your business to support our cause; there is no cost, contract or paperwork involved.

How do Mini Dogs help?

All funds from your Mini Dog directly support delivery of services to Western Australians living with vision loss, including:

Vision management support
Braille and Talking Book Library
Leisure and health programs
Orientation & mobility training
Guide Dog training and support
Employment support
Children and Family services
Occupational therapy
Social work & counselling
Community Education

What does a Mini Dog look like and how big is it?

A Mini Dog is approximately 30cm tall with a small base. It's brown plastic, in the shape of a Guide Dog and with a coin slot in the top. They don't take up much room!

How do I get my Mini Dog?

Please contact us to request a Mini Dog for your business.

Mini Dog FAQs

How often will the dog be collected and emptied?

Mini Dogs are cleared and maintained by our official volunteers up to 4 times a year, depending on how quickly they fill up. If your dog happens to get full before your next collection, please contact us (the number will also be on the bottom of your dog) and we can send a volunteer out to collect your full container and replace it with an empty one.

Collectors will always present their official Guide Dogs WA Badge before removing the dog and its contents.

We also offer self-banking if we do not have a volunteer in you local area. Our self banking option is handy for businesses that need change regularly, as they can use the change from their Mini Dog and forward the donations to us via direct deposit.

What happens after my Mini Dog is collected?

Once your Mini Dog has been counted at its Victoria Park home, we forward a thank you certificate including the amount raised. A lot of our current Mini Dog hosts put this on display to thank communities for their support.

What happens if the dog is stolen?

We do not under any circumstances hold the business liable for any Mini Dogs that are stolen, however we do encourage people to chain the container to the counter. Chains and plastic ties are available from Mini Dog Collectors and if requested will be dropped off with the dog.

What if once I have the dog I decide I don't want it anymore?

If at any time you want your Mini Dog collected contact us and a volunteer will come out to collect the dog.

Collections and Door Knock Appeals

We do not employ representatives or use the services of our volunteers to solicit donations through door to door knocking or regular street collections.

Should you be approached by a person collecting money for ‘the Blind' we suggest you ask what organisation they represent and request that they produce official identification.

If they are not carrying any identification, or refuse to produce it, we urge you to reconsider donating and contact the relevant authorities.