Guide Dogs For The Blind Celebrates New Puppy Center In Marin

SAN RAFAEL, CA — Guide Dogs for the Blind celebrated the first litter of puppies born in the guide dog school's new Puppy Center in San Rafael.

The puppy shower kicked off Wednesday with capturing the mom and dad's paw prints in cement outside the Puppy Center and ended with puppy shower games and treats for attendees. The event was not open to the public, but a crowd of roughly 200 puppy raisers, breed custodians, trainers and staff celebrated with about 40 dogs.

All future guide dogs from the guide dog school will be born in the $23 million Puppy Center and will spend their first critical 8-10 weeks of life at the facility, according to the organization.

The Puppy Center includes areas for puppy birthing, puppy socialization and the Learning Lab, an educational center to expand the public's understanding of what it takes to make a successful guide dog, as well as learn more about Guide Dogs for the Blind's clients who travel through life with a guide dog at their side.

The Puppy Center's grand opening to the public is planned for later this year.