Guiding Eyes for the Blind

?? Name Our Next Litter! ?? Our Guiding Eyes family is growing, and we need your help! A new litter of puppies will soon be welcomed at our Whelping Kennel in Patterson, NY, and we are asking for names that start with “F.” Got a favorite “F” name? Now’s your chance to submit it! These future guide dogs are counting on you to help them start their journey with a name as special as they are. Submit name suggestions by November 22 and stay tuned for a very special birth announcement in December! ?? https://bit.ly/PuppyName24 Picture Description: Mozart (black lab) and Milo (yellow lab), adorable puppy siblings from our MM24 litter, stand confidently on the low purple platform in our Hockmeyer Puppy Pavilion and look toward the camera with a curious expression. Photo: Zoe Bennett

?? Volunteers Urgently Needed! ?? If you’ve been looking for a way to make a paw-sitive impact, we have a variety of opportunities for you to join the Guiding Eyes community at or near our Canine Development Center in Patterson, NY. ?? Available roles: ?? Kennel Volunteers: Work hands-on with our dogs in the kennels. Perfect for dog lovers who enjoy physical activity, don't mind getting their hands dirty, and can commit to a regular schedule. ?? Volunteer Drivers: Help transport our puppies and dogs between facilities, using vehicles provided by Guiding Eyes. ?? Home Socializers: Take in two puppies (6-9 weeks old) for 3-5 days, providing socialization and reinforcing early training. ?? Home Litter Care: Care for a brood dog and her newborn puppies in your home for 3-5 weeks. Must live within 1 hour of our Canine Development Center. ?? Brood/Stud Fosters & Sitters: Provide a loving home for one of our breeding dogs. Fosters must live within 1.5 hours (females) or 1 hour (males) of the center. ?? Ready to help? Visit https://lnkd.in/ehfBxzxx to apply today, or reach out by email to [email protected] Picture Description: A volunteer recruitment graphic featuring a yellow Labrador puppy with a speech bubble, who says: "My friends and I need YOU." Next to the puppy is text that says "Volunteers Urgently Needed" with a list of volunteer roles: Volunteer Drivers, Kennel Volunteers, Home Socializers, Brood/Stud Fosters, and Home Litter Care. At the bottom: "Questions? Email [email protected] or apply on our website: GuidingEyes.org."

After a car accident in 2019 accelerated my vision loss, I was not moving through the world the way I wanted to. It became clear I couldn’t rely on my family forever, and that’s when I decided to apply to Guiding Eyes. Once I arrived at the school, I knew it was a special place. The facilities on campus were impressive, and it was clear the instructors, fellow students, and staff all wanted me to succeed. The first time I actually held the handle of my guide dog Bryna’s harness, I knew I could trust her. I was amazed at how well we worked together, and how seamlessly she guided me around obstacles. I couldn’t believe how effortlessly I could travel. Once I brought her back home, Bryna fit right into our family. Now, it’s as if we always needed her! When it’s time to work, she excitedly puts her head through the harness. I think her favorite parts of the day are the three-quarter-mile walk to drop off my son at school, and again at the end of the day to pick him up! Since being paired with Bryna, I feel less on edge, and I journey through life more easily. Everything in my daily life is less complicated, and I’m even looking forward to traveling more with my spouse and two kids. I know there are so many people with vision loss out there who dream of partnering with a guide dog like Bryna. That’s why I’m so excited to tell you that a generous group of donors is now MATCHING all gifts to Guiding Eyes, up to $100,000, through midnight tonight (10/17): https://lnkd.in/eRB_94vb Thanks to you, more journeys like ours are just beginning. ?? Forward together, Aimee & Guiding Eyes Bryna ?? Picture Description: Aimee and her guide dog Bryna, a female yellow Labrador, pose for their official team portrait together on a bench on the nature path at the Guiding Eyes Training School and Headquarters campus. Aimee smiles warmly, while Bryna, in a blue collar and leather guide dog harness, sits attentively beside her.

Exciting news! Guiding Eyes has once again been nominated in the Non-Profit category for the Best of Yorktown awards, held by our friends at the Yorktown Chamber Of Commerce. We’re proud to be recognized by our community, and with your help, we can win! Voting is open through October 13th: https://lnkd.in/eQXkG7Qd Picture Description: Noah, a male black Labrador retriever guide dog, sits in harness beside the iconic statue of a guide dog near the front entrance at our Yorktown Heights, NY Training School & Headquarters campus. A beautiful bush of bright purple flowers blooms in the background. Photo: Zoe Bennett

?? We’re past the midway point of the WAGATHON, and our wagging walkers are making incredible strides in support of our mission & guide dogs. A big shoutout to our Top 5 on the leaderboard, with Bill Topkis leading the pack at $7,095! ?? Thank you to everyone making their miles count! ?? Here’s our WAGATHON 2024 Top 5 Leaderboard so far: 1?? Bill Topkis - Longtime supporter and adopter of Shasta & Everest, released Guiding Eyes dogs 2?? Marin Baumer - Graduate handler with guide dog Kegan 3?? Paige Levine-Brennan - Active volunteer and adopter of released Guiding Eyes pup, Prince 4?? Jim McKnight - Graduate handler with guide dog Peony 5?? Elena Consalvo - Guiding Eyes staff member her with personal pup, Enzo There’s still time to join them—sign up and start fundraising today! https://lnkd.in/eE5uwADu Picture Descriptions: Title: "WAGATHON 2024 Leaderboard:" The wagging guide dog vector graphic from our event logo sits on the bottom left on a light blue background with rolling green hills. For each respective image, the participant's rank is listed, along with their photo in a white instant photo frame. The photo is labeled with their name and the amount they've currently raised. 1. Text: "Bill Topkis - $7,095 Raised" Photo: On a beautiful clear day, Bill takes a selfie with his senior black lab Shasta. Both pup and human have a big smile. 2. Text: "Marin Baumer - $5,000 Raised" Photo: Marin stands on the sidewalk and smiles for the camera with her guide dog Kegan, a male yellow lab, sitting at her side. 3. Text: "Paige Levine-Brennan - $2,324 Raised" Photo: Prince, a male black lab, sits patiently near some blooming flowers and looks up attentively toward the camera. 4. Text: "Jim McKnight - $2,145 Raised" Photo: Jim stands on the sidewalk in front of a beautiful patch of blooming flowers with his guide dog Peony, a female black lab, at his side. 5. Text: "Elena Consalvo - $2,105 Raised" Photo: Elena kneels on the porch with Enzo, her black Frenchie mix at her side. Elena wears this year's WAGATHON bucket hat, while Enzo models the bandana.

Today is National Hug Your Hound Day! Take a moment to give your furry friend a big hug (and some scratches) and thank them for being your loving companion. Pictured below is Cindy Hollis, ACB’s Manager of Membership Engagement, hugging her guide dog Balsa, a female German Shepherd from Guiding Eyes for the Blind. The photo was taken from Cindy’s front porch in Flat Rock, Michigan. #hugyourhoundday

?? National Beach Day has us dreaming of sunny walks by the shore—just like these WAGATHON participants from last year! The WAGATHON starts in just a few days, so there’s still time to join the fun. Where will your WAGATHON journey take you this September? Sign up now, and let’s make a splash together! https://lnkd.in/eE5uwADu Picture Descriptions: 1. Cosmo, happy Australian Shepherd with a fluffy gray, white, and brown coat and one blue and one brown eye, sits on a rock at the riverside park. The background shows a river and distant city skyline. 2. Adam kneels on the beach, smiling at the camera. He wears a blue jacket, black pants, and sunglasses. He holds a small brown dog with a pink collar and has his arm around Ursa, a female yellow Labrador guide dog in an orange harness. The ocean waves and a cloudy sky are in the background. 3. Amanda and her released Guiding Eyes black lab, Clementine, take a selfie on a sunny day during their WAGATHON walk. Amanda and Clementine both smile happily. They are on a stone walkway by a lake, with trees and a city skyline in the background.

?? Happy International Dog Day! Today, we're celebrating by spreading some puppy love on the airwaves! Our President & CEO, Thomas Panek, and his guide dog Ten, alongside Jolene Hollister, Manager of Running Guides, and four of our adorable guide dog puppies, Finneas, Fleetwood, Duncan, and Doyle, visited Good Day New York(Fox 5 NY) & ABC News Live today to share the Guiding Eyes mission. ?? Head over to our blog to see the videos and behind-the-scenes photos of this special day: https://lnkd.in/ecjXnGev Picture Description: On the set at Good Day New York, the group of Guiding Eyes staff, volunteers, and pups pose for a group photo with Good Day New York hosts Curt Menefee, NACD.DC and Tina Cervasio McKearney. #GDNY #InternationalDogDay

?? Happy National Dog Day! Whether you're a new dog parent or a seasoned pro, there's always something new to learn about deepening the bond with your furry friend. Our experts at Guiding Eyes have shared their top 10 tips to help you and your dog grow even closer. From fun activities to daily routines, these insights are sure to make every moment with your dog special. ?? ?? Check out the full blog here: https://bit.ly/geb_dogbond Picture Description: Waltz, a female black and tan German shepherd puppy, bounds forward toward the camera while making her way through a grass field. Waltz's ears are flopped to the side of her head, as she leaps forward. Photo: Joseph Gruber/Blue Marble Photography #NationalDogDay

Looking for a meaningful way to give back? Join us on Wednesday, August 28, from 7-8 pm EST for a virtual info session to learn how you can become a Puppy Raiser or Sitter with Guiding Eyes! Discover the joy of helping a future guide dog grow. ?? Sign up now and start your journey with us ??: https://lnkd.in/eVXvrKW4 Picture Description: Pinky, a female black lab, and her volunteer puppy raiser pose for the camera beside a bright red vespa scooter on the sidewalk outside an Italian restaurant. Pinky, in a sit position, wears an appropriately pink bandana, while her raiser has on a blue treat pouch with the Guiding Eyes logo. Photo: pinky_geb/Instagram