Guiding Eyes for the Blind breeds approximately 500 puppies each year, destined to become guide dogs and dogs for clients with other special needs, and maintains a breeding colony of adult dogs. We rely upon volunteers to take dogs owned by Guiding Eyes into their homes, for periods ranging from a few days to the dog’s lifetime. These volunteers gain the joy of canine companionship while playing a critical role in improving the lives of the visually impaired. Volunteers must successfully complete special training by Guiding Eyes, and commit to minimum participation depending upon the program.

• Commit a few days to a few weeks, on a repeating basis
  • Puppy Sitter – take dogs age 4 months to 8 years into your home for 1 to 2 weeks. Provide care for, and maintain training of, puppies being raised as guide dogs or breeding dogs when their raisers or fosters are on vacation. Volunteer opportunities are available in our puppy raising regions located on the Eastern Seaboard.
• Commit 1 to 3 months
  • Puppy Raising Starter Home – take a puppy age 8 to 12 weeks into your home for 2 to 3 months. Train and socialize a pup until ready to go to a permanent puppy raiser. This is ideal for a volunteer who can be available at home every few hours for a small puppy’s needs. Starter raisers can then pass on the pup to a raiser who is unable to start a puppy (because their schedule won’t allow them to be home every few hours). Volunteer opportunities are available in our puppy raising regions located on the Eastern Seaboard.
• Commit 4 to 14 months
  • Puppy Raiser – take a puppy age 8 weeks or older into your home, until ready to enter guide dog training. Volunteer opportunities are available in our puppy raising regions located on the Eastern Seaboard.
• Commit to a Lifetime
  • Breeding Dog Foster – take a dog 18 months or older into your home for the dog’s lifetime. Foster volunteers must live within a 2 hour drive (for broods) or a 1 hour drive (for studs) to Patterson, New York. Volunteers must provide 3 miles of walking for daily exercise and transport the dog to and from Guiding Eyes as needed.