Guiding Eyes for the Blind

It’s #NationalPuppyDay! Say hello to Jelly Bean, the foodie who tackles life (and treats!) with boundless enthusiasm, and Jolie, the thoughtful explorer ready to take on the world, one paw at a time. ?? ? Curious, playful, and packed with potential, these pups are ready to shine. These two sisters have found their Puppy Raisers, but there are still eager guide dog #Puppies waiting for a volunteer like you! This National #Puppy Day, consider opening your heart and home to a future guide dog in training. ?? Meet Jelly Bean & Jolie: https://lnkd.in/esrY2ib5 Picture Description: Adorable black lab puppies, Jolie (left, yellow collar) and Jelly Bean (right, light green collar), eagerly pose for the camera with their paws over the open top edge of a metal transport pen — a mobile enclosure used to move puppies safely between their kennels and different areas of campus. Photo: Zoe Bennett

A big round of applause for Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson, Inc. Troop 40416 from Nanuet! These amazing girls stopped by the training school for future Guiding Eyes for the Blind #guidedogs with a generous #donation! They collected teething toys for the puppy kennel, bones for adult dogs, and handmade fleece rope toys for future puppy raisers. They also gathered newspapers and towels to help keep the pups comfy and clean! #Thankyou for making a difference in the lives of future guide dogs! #GuidingEyes #GirlScouts #PuppyRaising #RaiseAPuppyChangeAlife Photo Description: A group of nine young Girl Scouts poses inside the Guiding Eyes training school lobby, surrounded by boxes and bags filled with donations. They are smiling and dressed in green junior scout vests. Two dogs, Elvy, a black and tan German Shepherd, and Prince, a black Labrador Retriever, sit next to them. The scouts are holding various items that were donated.

?? The competition is fierce—who will be our cover star? We have three adorable finalists for the 2026 Guiding Eyes Calendar cover, and we can’t choose—so we’re leaving it up to you! ? Cast your vote for: ?? Halsey, the black Lab puppy ?? Elvy, the black & tan German Shepherd ?? Tad, the yellow Lab puppy Voting closes March 16th, so don’t wait! Vote now to help us pick the cutest cover ever: https://lnkd.in/eck-wtRc Picture Descriptions: 1. Halsey, a female black Labrador Retriever puppy with a shiny coat, is looking upwards with a curious expression. She is wearing a green collar. In the background, there are vibrant red flowers and green foliage. ?? : Cathy Davidson 2. Elvy, an adolescent female black and tan German Shepherd, sits happily among vibrant pink and purple tulips in a garden. She wears her blue Guiding Eyes training vest. ?? : Ian McGregor 3. Tad, a male yellow lab puppy, rests in a down position on the grass in front of some bright green plants. Tad has a curious expression and wears an American flag bandana. ?? : Barb Paszul

Pupdate: Don’t forget to #springforward Your favorite Guiding Eyes for the Blind puppies are here to remind you that #DaylightSavingsTime starts this Sunday! That means we’re losing an hour of sleep… but don’t worry, we’ll still be up bright and early for #training (and #treats, of course). Set your clocks ahead one hour and get ready for longer days, more #sunshine, and extra time for #puppycuddles! Photo Description 1. Two black lab puppies are lying on a raised dog bed covered with a blue blanket. The blanket has sea turtles on them. There is an alarm clock on the side of them. 2. One black lab puppy is lying on a dog bed with an alarm clock. 3. A black lab puppy is lying on a dog bed with an alarm clock. 4. Two black lab puppies are lying on a dog bed with an alarm clock resting on them. #DaylightSavings #SpringForward #GuidingEyes #RaiseAPuppyChangeALife #PuppyRaising

Exciting news for fans of our pointy-eared pups! We’ve opened adoption applications for caring families looking to give a loving home to an adult German Shepherd that has been released from formal guide dog training. Each of these remarkable dogs is ready for their forever family as a cherished pet. ?? Learn more: https://bit.ly/geb_adopt Note - Euro was released from our program in 2021 and adopted by a staff member. Euro is not available for adoption. Picture Description: On a beautiful summer day, Euro, a male black and tan German Shepherd, lays in the grass with a happy expression. Photo: Jessica Walsh

Hi there! I’m Macy Nauman and I am the Regional Puppy Instructor for the #Cleveland, #Ohio regions. We have three class locations - #ClevelandWest, #ClevelandEast and #Akron/#Canton. I have been a puppy raiser for Guiding Eyes for the Blind for 18 years and an RPI for two years. I am currently #raising a female black lab named Elina. My favorite part of the job is getting to know the different #volunteers in my area. Each volunteer brings their unique #qualities and #perspectives, coming together with the same #goal of shaping the future of #guidedogs with #compassion, #creativity, and #dedication. If you are in the Cleveland Ohio area, I would love to have you come check out a puppy class and see what being part of our region is all about! Photo Description: Macy is sitting in a field with a black and tan German Shepherd sitting over one of Macy's legs. #PuppyRaising #GuidingEyes #RaiseAPuppyChangeALife

Hi everyone! My name is Jeanyne Gembarski and I’m the Regional Puppy Instructor for three regions in #Maryland – #Montgomery, #Baltimore, and #Catocin. Before I became a staff member at Guiding Eyes for the Blind, I was a professional pet dog trainer and puppy raiser/sitter for 10 years in Cleveland, OH. I am currently raising my 10th puppy, Mack. As an RPI, I love watching the little puppies learn and grow during the first year of their journey to becoming #guidedogs. I love to watch the wheels turn in their heads as they figure out how to navigate and be polite in this big world! I love working with the #volunteers and witnessing the successes they have as they teach the pup they are raising the skills they will need to become a guide dog. I also love supporting raisers as they process all the emotions they will feel when they say goodbye and send them off to “college.” Working at Guiding Eyes is incredibly rewarding as we work together to accomplish the organization’s mission to provide trained guide dogs for the visually impaired which gives them the independence they need and deserve. If you’re interested in learning more about puppy raising and would like to join our wonderful community of volunteers, please reach out to us! Photo Description: Jeanyne is kneeling in front of haybales and pumpkins. In between her legs is a small black Labrador puppy with a blue leash. #GuidingEyes #PuppyRaising #RaiseAPuppyChangeALife

?? #PuppyLove is in the air! ?? The people have spoken, and Indiana is the top pup in our #ValentinesDay contest! But honestly? We think they’re all winners. ?? Want to see how we turned puppy playtime into the cutest Valentine’s Day photoshoot ever? We’re giving you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look! Take a peek inside: https://lnkd.in/e5sPbhyi Thanks to you, these future guide dogs are on their way to changing lives—one wag, one kiss, and one extraordinary partnership at a time. ?? Happy Valentine’s Day from Indiana, Isa, Ivan, Infinity, and all of us at Guiding Eyes! ?? Picture Description: Indiana, a yellow Labrador puppy, lays with a plush red rose toy placed on a background of a red and white Valentine's Day card with hearts. The text reads: "Happy Valentines Day" at the top, and below, "To:" and "From: Indiana" with an outlined paw print in light blue.

Help our puppies with a very important Valentine’s Day decision?? Infinity, Indiana, Isa, and Ivan are in a pickle—too many adorable photos, and they can’t choose just one! Help settle the debate by voting for your favorite Valentine’s Day card. ?? It’s a tough choice, but someone’s gotta do it... Check out the cutest Valentine’s pics here: https://lnkd.in/d9PcEFEH Picture Descriptions: 1. Infinity, a female yellow lab puppy, sits in the Early Socialization Room at our Canine Development Center campus holding a plush rose toy in her mouth. 2. Indiana, a male yellow lab puppy, lays with a plush toy rose on the lap of a volunteer in navy blue scrubs. Indiana looks toward the camera with a calm expression. 3. Ivan, a male yellow lab puppy, sits on the pink blanket patterned with black, white, and red arrows. Ivan looks up curiously off camera, while a plush rose toy sits at his feet. A pink felt banner hanging on the wall in the background spells out LOVE. 4. Isa, a female yellow lab puppy, lays on the ground and chews thoughtfully on a plush red rose toy. ??: Zoe Bennett

A huge thank you to Jake's Way for their amazing generosity! ?? On January 31st, they joined us for an on-campus graduation and presented Guiding Eyes with a $16,918 donation from their September fundraiser, honoring the legacy of Jake Arcara. Jake was known for his kind heart, love for animals, and passion for helping others—and this donation ensures that his spirit continues to make a difference. ?? We are so grateful for this incredible support, which helps us provide life-changing guide dogs. Thank you, Jake’s Way, for carrying on Jake’s mission of giving back to the community! Picture Description: A smiling group from Jake's Way stands in Alumni Hall before a graduation ceremony, presenting an oversized check to Rebekah Cross, the Director of Donor Relations at Guiding Eyes, and her senior female black lab guide dog, Regal along with Olivia Miller, a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor Trainee. Olivia holds the leash of Odette, a female yellow lab guide dog in-training. Town of Yorktown