Guiding Eyes Now Accepting New Puppy Raisers in Scarsdale and Lower Westchester

Guiding Eyes for the Blind, known around the globe as one of the foremost guide dog schools, is inviting residents of Central and Southern Westchester to open their homes and hearts in a rare volunteer opportunity to raise a future guide dog puppy. The nonprofit has announced the opening of its Lower Westchester puppy raising region with an orientation series that begins on October 28th for prospective volunteers.

For someone without sight, a Guiding Eyes dog is a priceless, life-changing gift providing independence, companionship and mobility. Puppy raisers come from all walks of life and include couples, families with children, young adults, and senior citizens. They all share a common desire to be a part of something bigger than themselves.

Puppy raisers Kathlyn Carroll and Michael Healy of White Plains have experienced firsthand the joy and fulfillment that comes with raising a future guide dog.

“Becoming a puppy raiser is something I’ve wanted to do since I was a college student in Georgia,” explained Carroll, who moved to White Plains after graduating and learned about Guiding Eyes while preparing for graduate school. “The first puppy Michael and I raised recently graduated as a guide dog; he works with a Deaf-Blind college student and helps him get to and from classes safely and independently. We are so proud to be part of this tremendous difference in someone’s life.”

Puppy raisers welcome 8 week-old puppies into their homes and with full support from the nonprofit, including training classes and free vet care. The volunteers love, nurture, and educate the puppies for a 14 to 16 month period before sending them off to their calling as a guide dog for a person who is blind or visually impaired.

The next puppy raiser orientation series will be held on October 28th, November 11th and November 25th from 6:00 – 8:00pm at the Scarsdale Teen Center located at 862 Scarsdale Avenue in Scarsdale. Prospective volunteers will have the opportunity to learn more about the program and meet some very special pups. RSVPs are required for the orientation series and potential raisers must attend all three classes to become a raiser. Following orientation classes, regular puppy raising training sessions are held on Tuesday evenings in Scarsdale.

“Without the extraordinary dedication of our puppy raisers, we would simply be unable to provide guide dogs to people who are blind or visually impaired,” said Michelle Brier, Guiding Eyes’ Director of Marketing and Communications.

Volunteers are always invited to attend the graduation ceremony of the dog that they helped to raise, which typically commences approximately six months after sending the puppy back to Guiding Eyes for formal training. It’s during this celebration that the raisers have the opportunity to meet the dog’s new partner and truly understand the impact that a guide dog has in the life of a person with vision loss.

“We love the puppies we’ve raised - first Payson and now Brett,” said Carroll. “They are smart, sweet, and funny, with their own unique personalities and preferences. We get to help them grow from tiny, clumsy pups to mature, confident dogs ready to do an important job. It is so rewarding to watch them explore and learn about the world.”

The Guiding Eyes Puppy Raising Program is comprised of more than 400 volunteers from Maine to North Carolina. Some already have forever pets of their own, while others commit to raising guide dogs as a way to give back. Raisers live in urban, suburban, and rural areas, in apartments, townhomes, and single-family residences. No matter the circumstance, all puppy raisers agree that the program is emotionally rewarding in a multitude of ways.

To RSVP for the orientation series or to learn more about the Lower Westchester puppy raising region, contact Kate Schroer-Shepord at (845) 230-6436 or kschroer@guidingeyes.org. For additional information on Guiding Eyes’ puppy raising program, visit www.guidingeyes.org/volunteer/puppy-raising/ or call 1-866-GEB-LABS.

About Guiding Eyes for the Blind: Guiding Eyes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing guide and service dogs that expand horizons for people to achieve life’s goals. All services are offered free of charge to men and women who are blind or visually impaired and to families with children with autism. Since its inception, Guiding Eyes has grown to be one of the foremost guide dog schools in the world, known for its cutting-edge training programs and commitment to excellence. The organization’s Headquarters and Training Center is located in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. and its Canine Development Center is in Patterson, N.Y. For more info, visit www.guidingeyes.org, like Guiding Eyes on Facebook (www.facebook.com/guidingeyes) or follow @guidingeyes on Twitter.