170 Puppies Train As Seeing Eye Dogs At Newark Airport (PHOTOS)

NEWARK, NJ — A parade of puppies pondered planes as part of a popular and “pawesome” program in New Jersey earlier this month.

Newark Liberty International Airport recently hosted 170 puppies and more than 200 volunteers as part of a program to train them for their future roles as guide dogs. Many of the pups will eventually help their new owners to travel through airports – including Newark.

During training sessions on May 6 and May 13, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration and United Airlines teamed up with volunteers from The Seeing Eye, a New Jersey-based nonprofit that helps blind and visually impaired people gain independence and mobility.

As part of the training, dozens of German shepherds, golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, and Labrador/golden retriever mix puppies were led through Terminal C’s baggage areas, checkpoints and gates, AirTrain Newark and a United Airlines plane.

Port Authority police also helped familiarize the puppies with emergency equipment and vehicles, and offered a demonstration of their own K-9 unit’s bomb-sniffing skills.

The annual event – a tradition at the airport – was put on hold during the coronavirus pandemic and returned for the first time since 2019 this year.

Peggi Howard, president and CEO of The Seeing Eye, said the puppy raisers look forward to their visits to Newark Liberty International Airport.

“These outings provide important exposure and prepare each puppy for their future as a Seeing Eye dog,” Howard said.

The pooches were initially placed with volunteer families from New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and New York, where they were socialized and taught basic obedience and house manners. After about a year with their volunteer families, the dogs returned to The Seeing Eye for a four-month formal training program with a professional instructor, who taught them to guide a person.

Following the training, the dogs are matched with a person who is blind or visually impaired.

“The pandemic put a hold on this beloved tradition at Newark Liberty, and we are excited to have it back at the airport,” Port Authority chair Kevin O’Toole said.

“Even for the most seasoned fliers, navigating through an airport can be challenging,” Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said. “This partnership with The Seeing Eye helps create a better travel experience by familiarizing our airport staff in assisting those who are visually impaired.”

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