WHITE PLAINS – Guiding Eyes for the Blind puppies took off from the Westchester County Airport Monday and arrived in Florida three hours later aboard a Pilots to the Rescue charter flight to meet their volunteer puppy raisers.
Over the next 14–16 months, the raisers will provide the puppies with love, support and early training while introducing them to everyday environments and experiences.
The puppies will then return to Guiding Eyes’ campuses in Patterson and Yorktown to begin formal training to become guide dogs for people with vision loss. The flight was part of Guiding Eyes’ Remote Puppy Raising program, which allows volunteers nationwide to help prepare future guide dogs regardless of where they live.
Guiding Eyes provides guide dogs to individuals who are blind or experiencing vision loss with no cost to the recipient.
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. 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.”
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