WHITE PLAINS – A charter flight will be taking off from the Westchester County Airport this afternoon holding a special cargo: Guiding Eyes for the Blind puppies.
The future guide dogs will be on their way to meet their ‘puppy raisers’ – a group of volunteers who will provide love, support and training for the next 14-16 months before they journey back to the Guiding Eyes New York campuses in Patterson and Yorktown to begin their formal training on the way to becoming guide dogs for people with vision loss.
Leslie Stephens, regional puppy manager at Guiding Eyes explained, “Our Remote Puppy Raising program opens the door for dedicated volunteers across the country to help shape the future of a guide dog, regardless of where they live. Guiding Eyes partnership with Pilots to the Rescue allows us to bring that opportunity to people in more communities across the country.”
She said Remote Puppy Raisers play a vital role in introducing future guide dogs to everyday life, while also building a local support network that enriches each puppy’s experiences. “Together, we’re creating more opportunities for these remarkable dogs to develop the confidence and skills they’ll continue to build when they return to our campus for formal guide dog training,” she said.
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