The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office has inducted its newest and cutest member! Liam, a two-and-a-half-year-old black Lab/golden retriever cross, recently retired from The Seeing Eye breeding program, but his career hasn’t ended yet. Liam has found success with a new job as a K9 Therapy Dog. 

The Coordinator of the Victim Witness Unit is currently training Liam. He is learning how to “provide comfort to victims attending the Prosecutor’s Office Child Advocacy Center (CAC) and the courthouse,” explains Prosecutor McDonald. 

Liam will be a calming presence as survivors explain their experiences, which can be highly stressful. Having Liam by their side will help Victim Witness staff members continue to ease the stress of the victims and families they work with. 

We are so proud of all the excellent work Liam will do and know he will positively impact each person he meets. 

To hear updates on Liam’s progress, visit: https://www.somersetprosnj.gov/community-page/271

The post A Calming Presence: K9 Therapy Dog Liam appeared first on The Seeing Eye.

Not many people have the opportunity to retire a second time.

When I retired in 2015 after 26 years at Drew University, I thought I’d written my last retirement letter. I’m grateful for this chance to write a second one, because these last three years as President & CEO of The Seeing Eye have been the highlight of my career.

When I first joined The Seeing Eye’s Board of Trustees in 2009, I hoped I could make a difference at this wonderful organization that was one of the Garden State’s many gems. Everyone had heard of Seeing Eye dogs, since 1929 used by thousands of people across the United States and Canada… but how many knew they were all born and trained right here in New Jersey?

Fifteen years later, as we celebrate our 95th anniversary and more than 18,000 Seeing Eye partnerships created, The Seeing Eye dog is the official State Dog of New Jersey.

I’ve held many titles over the years, from Executive Director to Deputy Chief of Staff to Vice President of Administration & University Relations to President & CEO. And now it is time for me to try on the title of grandma.

A search is underway to find the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer of this incredible organization.

I hope you share my belief that The Seeing Eye today is even better than I joined 15 years ago. We continue to be the gold standard of guide dog schools, well prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead as we approach our 100th anniversary and beyond. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of The Seeing Eye’s amazing story.

The post Peggi Howard announces her pending retirement appeared first on The Seeing Eye.

Alyssa, who lives with retinal dystrophy, never let her gradual vision loss stop her from navigating her small hometown and high school hallways by herself. However, soon after Alyssa graduated high school, she realized that college was a whole different ball game.

Though Alyssa had strong orientation and mobility skills, her new college campus was far more expansive than her small hometown and she found it difficult to navigate alone. “I hated it. I didn’t get out much. I would go to class, come back, and that was it,” Alyssa explains.

Alyssa soon realized it was time for a change, so she decided to consult The Seeing Eye’s Admissions and Instruction & Training teams. Alyssa’s strong orientation and mobility skills, along with her low vision, made her a candidate for a Seeing Eye® dog, and after speaking with the instructors, Alyssa felt confident that this was the right place for her to apply.

In 2015, The Seeing Eye matched Alyssa with Autumn, a black Lab/golden retriever cross. “When we went for our first walk, I cried from happiness the entire time,” Alyssa remembers. “It was one of the most magical experiences of my life. I will never forget it.”

With newfound confidence and freedom, Alyssa could fully enjoy her college experience. “A month after I got matched with her, I started going out to things in college and started going to the gym — little things that I just would never do before. Having Autumn by my side opened everything up for me.”

The confidence to explore new social environments with ease was a benefit Alyssa had not realized a guide dog could provide her with. Even after Alyssa had completed her studies, she and Autumn continued to be an adventurous duo, especially when Alyssa went on a backpacking trip in Canada. “Autumn kept me safe. She told me every hiking route, every hole in the ground, and every time we had to pause for traffic.”

Today, Alyssa is a developmental psychologist, working with developmentally atypical children in hospital settings with her second Seeing Eye dog, a black Lab/golden retriever cross named Trexler. Trexler helps Alyssa navigate her daily commute, workplace, and errands.

When it was time for Autumn to retire, Alyssa chose to keep her as a pet in her own home, an option all Seeing Eye handlers have since The Seeing Eye grants them full ownership rights over their Seeing Eye dogs. Autumn is enjoying retired life and is the best of friends with Trexler. “They’re always together — cuddling together, playing together, and even sleeping in the same bed together,” Alyssa says fondly.

The post Opening the Door to New Opportunities: Alyssa & Autumn appeared first on The Seeing Eye.

The Seeing Eye is not the only school Sarah recently graduated from. She received her bachelor’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania this past May and now lives a long way from home at the University of Cambridge where she is working on her Ph.D. in Astronomy. With her Seeing Eye dog Elana, a yellow Lab/golden retriever cross, Sarah says she is excited about this new adventure.

Sarah has had stable low vision all her life and has worked hard to have strong cane and mobility skills. It was not until college that the idea of applying for a guide dog crossed Sarah’s mind due to Sarah finding herself “playing pinball off of people’s ankles” when trying to navigate with her cane around campus. Then there were the close calls with cars.

It just so happens that two other Seeing Eye graduates were attending UPenn at the same time as Sarah. One graduate named Kay never expressed the same frustrations that Sarah felt at the time. Kay’s perspective as a guide dog user ultimately convinced Sarah it was time to apply for a Seeing Eye dog.

Today, Sarah and Elana are an unstoppable pair. Sarah explains, “I always know what she’s thinking” when referring to each of Elana’s movements. Elana is also very good at reading Sarah’s emotions and will slow her pace when Sarah is tired. Out of harness, Elana is always ready to curl up in Sarah’s lap whether Sarah is happy or needs some cheering up. This adorable trait does not just go for Sarah. Elana often curls up on Sarah’s friends when she is not in harness and working.

With Elana, Sarah says she has “the confidence to go to not just routine places but new places.” Before, Sarah relied heavily on Google Maps and often felt embarrassed and anxious if she ever became lost or was unsure where to go. Now, Sarah’s mind is at ease when navigating new places, especially with Elana’s ability to bring Sarah directly to door handles. Sarah no longer has to feel around buildings, hoping she will find the correct entrance.

Working around the 814-year-old Cambridge University campus has come with its unique challenges for the team, including a lack of braille, uneven steps, and “lots and lots of cobblestones”, but Sarah and Elana work through them the same as they would any other challenges they may face. Sarah is grateful to have Elana by her side and does not believe she would have ever felt brave enough to pursue this education if it were not for Elana and The Seeing Eye.

“It would have changed the course of my life if I didn’t have Elana.”

The post Guiding Across the Pond: Sarah & Elana appeared first on The Seeing Eye.

The Seeing Eye is committed to educating the public and business owners about the ongoing challenges faced by guide dog handlers worldwide, particularly in accessing public spaces. Other guide dog organizations around the world share our concerns as this was a key issue highlighted at the 2023 International Guide Dog Federation Conference in Vancouver.

The Seeing Eye Board of Trustees recently renewed and elevated our commitment to advocating for the rights of guide dog handlers by creating a new department of Advocacy & Government Relations. Long-time Director of Instruction and Training Dave Johnson will lead the department with a focus on increasing efforts to make the world a more accessible and friendly place for guide dog handlers.

In 2023, Johnson and Melissa Allman, the Sr. Specialist of Advocacy & Government Relations, implemented initiatives aimed at educating law enforcement, guide dog handlers, and the public.

A significant initiative is an online training course for police officers and first responders in New Jersey. This course focuses on federal and state laws regarding guide dog handlers’ access rights, including Dusty’s Law, which criminalizes interfering with or harming a service animal. We are tracking the effectiveness of this training with the aim to expand similar efforts to other states.

Another major step is the launch of the Seeing Eye Advocacy App, available for Apple/iOS and for Android. This app provides crucial information on U.S. and Canadian laws related to guide dog access rights, along with resources for self-advocacy. It’s designed for guide dog handlers, instructors, business owners, pet dog owners, and others seeking knowledge about these laws.

We are also leveraging social media to spread awareness about service animal-related issues. This includes topics like the definition of a service animal, what questions businesses can ask, issues with ride-sharing services, access to national parks and air travel, and grassroots legislative efforts by our graduates.

Recognizing the importance of staying informed about relevant laws and developments, The Seeing Eye offers an “Access Lecture” to each class of students. Additionally, we have launched topical advocacy webinars, with the first focusing on current air travel challenges for guide dog handlers.

We look forward to sharing the development of new programs and advocacy-centered resources as we advance into 2024 and beyond.

The post Making the World More Accessible for Guide Dogs and Their Handlers appeared first on The Seeing Eye.

The National Service Animal Memorial (NSAM) was an idea sparked when renowned sculptor Susan Bahary worked abroad creating a variety of service animal statues, noticed how other countries paid tribute to all types of service animals and wanted to find a way to do the same in the United States.

Susan received her start in service animal sculpture work in 1994 when she created the United States’ first official war dog memorial, “Always Faithful,” at the Marine Corps War Dog Cemetery at the U.S. Naval Base on Guam. It was at the unveiling of that statue that Susan was forever changed. “The veterans of World War II came back, after 50 years, to Guam to commemorate these dogs at the cemetery. They came back to thank the dogs and remember them at the cemetery.” Susan recalls.

The impact of service animals is immeasurable, and witnessing those veterans’ thankfulness firsthand made Susan want to create a memorial in our nation’s capital where people of all backgrounds could go to not only honor all service animals but also educate themselves and others about the significance of service animals and their handlers.

“People really respond well to animals in our country. Hopefully, with the National Service Animals Memorial, we can bring people together. This can be something that we can all agree upon regardless of our backgrounds. It can really bring out the best in all of all of us. It has so many ways in which we can honor, inspire, educate, and heal people,” explains Susan.

To spread the word about NSAM and honor those in the service animal community, the NSAM board decided to host the first-ever Purple Poppy Awards this September in California. In attendance was The Seeing Eye’s Chief Financial and Operating Officer, James Hands, along with The Seeing Eye’s Outreach Specialist, Chelsea White, and her German shepherd Seeing Eye® dog, Brooke. James accepted the Hall of Fame award on behalf of The Seeing Eye.

“We had decided that the first guide dog school in the United States and the oldest existing guide dog school in the world had to be included in the Hall of Fame. Since The Seeing Eye continues to have a great reputation, it was absolutely the right decision,” Susan says.

The National Service Animal Memorial is still on its journey to being constructed, but the project aims to be completed by 2028. To learn more about NSAM, visit https://nationalserviceanimalsmemorial.org/

The post The Seeing Eye Inducted into Hall of Fame appeared first on The Seeing Eye.

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Tell us a little about yourself:

I live in West Deptford, NJ, with my fiancée and Seeing Eye® dog Milo. I work in Sales at Lipman Family Farm selling tomatoes. I’ve been with the company for 16 years, but I wouldn’t say I’m an expert in tomatoes!

In my spare time, I love cycling and running.

What is your daily routine?

Milo and I get up, eat and drink, and go to work at about 10:30. Before we get there, we’ll walk around the neighborhood and then sprint to work. Milo’s not a very good runner, but he’s a great sprinter! We’ll do our walk and another sprint again later on in the day.

Then on our walk home, we’ll go through a different neighborhood, and head back to my apartment complex. We get home and play until bedtime. And hopefully he has the best life ever.

What was your first time meeting Milo like?

When my trainer Ruth Anne introduced Milo to me, he licked my face for 10 minutes. We were the best of friends from that moment on!

What made you want to get a Seeing Eye® dog?

I looked it up on the internet, and the first school I applied to told me I was too independent, so I let it go.

Then somebody told me there were guide dog schools around New Jersey, so I looked online again and found The Seeing Eye. There was an open house on a Saturday, and I got to meet some of the dogs. I was hooked from that moment on; never looked back.

Now that you have Milo, what’s changed in your life?

I never went anywhere after dark on my own, even with the cane. What I do with Milo, I would never have dreamed of doing with a cane. We’ve been to train stations! I never did that on my own. When I go out with Milo, I’m never afraid.

Milo really changed my life. You gotta go for the adventure, and the last couple of years we really have been on so many adventures.

Unless you are blind, you can’t truly understand what Milo does for me — never take your eyesight for granted. He’s literally saved my life three or four times from cars pulling out of their driveways.

What’s your biggest accomplishment since meeting Milo?

I completed a triathlon by swimming 2.4 miles in a pool, cycling 112 miles on a stationary bike, and running 26.2 miles on a treadmill — all to raise awareness and some funding for The Seeing Eye.

Hi, I’m Milo!

Age: 6 years old

Breed: Black Labrador retriever

Personality: I’m a stone-cold worker when I’ve got my harness on, completely focused on my tasks. But when the harness is off, I play hard, too. I love leaving my toys all over the apartment!

Favorite Activities: Riding escalators

Career Highlights: One of our first nights together, I led Ian safely across the street when the sidewalk was closed, despite his prodding to continue forward on the sidewalk.

I pointed out the handrail at the dentist where Ian had been going for years. He had no idea it was there, but I thought it was important for him to know.

The post Q&A with Seeing Eye Grad Ian appeared first on The Seeing Eye.

One of the reasons people choose to work with guide dogs is the freedom that comes with having greater independence and mobility in all kinds of situations—like hiking, for example. It can be exhilarating to navigate a trail by feeling your dog’s movements through the harness. National parks are a great place to experience that and although pets are often excluded, people with disabilities have a right to be accompanied by their service animals.

There may be situations where an area of the park is closed to service animals, such as when the presence of the animal jeopardizes the safe operation of the park’s services, but this is the exception, not the general rule. The National Park Service has aligned its policy with the Department of Justice’s ADA regulations. Check out this overview of the policy.

Service animals are allowed by law in other types of parks such as state or local parks and amusement parks. Check out The Seeing Eye’s page on public access here.

The post Learn about Service Animal Access at Public Parks appeared first on The Seeing Eye.

Tell us a little about yourself:

I live in Mesa, Arizona with my wife, our kids, two pet dogs (a Shih Tzu and a Bichon Poodle mix), and of course my Seeing Eye® dog Eric. I work at Arizona State University as an Accessibility Consultant in the Student Accessibility and Inclusive Learning Services department. We take textbooks and course materials and make them accessible.

Describe your daily routine:

I get up at 5 every morning, get myself ready then take Eric out, feed him, brush his teeth and coat. We leave the house at 6:45 for our commute, which includes a walk and a bus ride. Eric has a mat, a blanket, and a couple toys at my office. We go to the park around 10 am, but otherwise he sleeps most of the day. Then we head home and have dinner. I’m enrolled at the University of Arizona for my Masters in Legal Studies, and I do homework in the evening. Eric’s usually by my desk — he’s always been good about that.

What made you want to get a Seeing Eye® dog?

I was a cane user for many years. I know there are a lot of really competent cane travelers. But for me, cane travel is slow. It’s a lot of mental energy — figuring out what it is the cane hits, figuring out how to get around obstacles.

My mentor is another Seeing Eye graduate — she’s the one who really convinced me. She told me I’d be an excellent guide dog handler, since I’m precise about things and keep to a schedule.

And the fact that The Seeing Eye is the oldest guide dog school in the country — that mattered to me. They pioneered the training techniques and methods. I know The Seeing Eye will be there for whatever I may need in the future.

What was it like meeting Eric for the first time?

Dog Day is like no other day. That morning, we had a lecture…and all the students knew the instructors were making the final match decisions. That anticipation made the lecture feel so long!

Then we waited in our rooms for the instructors to bring in our new dogs. I was so hyped — I had the leash, I was pacing, I was ready. When they came to my door, Eric was all “take-charge” about coming into the room. It was so surreal, it was amazing.

I like people names for dogs, so when they told me I had Eric, I was so happy. And of course, Eric is a part of Cedric. We fit.

Our match couldn’t be any more perfect. If my instructor had said there was a better guide dog out there for me, I would’ve called her a liar.

Now that you have Eric, what do you feel more confident doing?

Before, I stuck to my known routes to get where I needed to go. Now I have Eric, I change up our walking routes to keep things interesting for him. I can go whichever way I want.

My wife says I’m more confident with Eric, and she’s right. That’s partially because I only have to think about our destination — all of the obstacles, who we’re passing, if there’s an emergency vehicle approaching, Eric handles it.

The freedom he’s given me is beyond measure. I wasn’t expecting that. I thought he’d improve my quality of life, but he’s changed everything.

Hi, I’m Eric!

Age: 4 years

Breed: Yellow Lab/golden retriever cross

Personality: When my harness is on, I’m a paw-fect angel — focused and content with the work I’m doing. When it comes off, I’m full of energy! I’m also known as a toy destroyer.

Favorite Activities: Playing ball and swimming

Career Highlights: Showed my intelligent disobedience and ignored Cedric’s “forward” command when a car was coming through an intersection — boy did I get a lot of praise after that!

Every week, I navigate safely across a very busy driveway, so Cedric can get to Trader Joe’s (which seems to be a very important place for humans).

The post Q&A with Seeing Eye grad Cedric appeared first on The Seeing Eye.

If you work with a guide dog or other type of service animal and you haven’t flown in a while, you may be feeling ready to embrace the new normal and fly somewhere interesting. But … you’ve heard the U.S. regulations changed in the last few years concerning flying with a service animal. Here’s some helpful links to explore:

The Department of Transportation breaks it down and provides helpful tips about the regulations.

Once you’ve decided which airline you will be flying on, it’s a good idea to check out their policies on service animals so you know how they are applying the regulations. Check out this information from some major U.S. and Canadian carriers:

Alaska Airlines

Allegiant Air

American Airlines

Breeze Airways

Delta Airlines

Frontier Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines

Jet Blue

Southwest Airlines

Spirit Airlines

Sun Country Airlines

United Airlines

Air Canada

West Jet

The post U.S. Regulations for Air Travel with Service Animals appeared first on The Seeing Eye.

Dean was born with retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive eye disease that caused his vision to deteriorate over time. Gradual vision loss was hard for Dean, and eventually, he reached a point where he no longer felt comfortable traveling alone. That’s when he decided it was time for a guide dog.

In 1985, The Seeing Eye matched Dean with his first dog, a German shepherd named Heidi. Dean remembers his instructor handing him the leash and saying, “This is Heidi. She doesn’t know you yet. You have three-and-a-half weeks to get to know each other and begin to work as a team.”

Dean took those words to heart. He realized it couldn’t just be about him trusting Heidi to keep him safe; he needed to make sure Heidi trusted him as well.

It’s been 35 years, and Dean has traveled with Heidi, Quentin, Patty, Houston, Thor, and now Gus, all German shepherds. Each time The Seeing Eye has paired Dean with a new dog, he recalled the lessons he learned with Heidi. The more trust he builds, the more he and his dog can do.

Dean is almost 80 years old, retired, and busier than ever! With Gus by his side, Dean goes to the gym, walks with neighbors and friends, volunteers with his church, donates blood, and more.

“I thought I’d be sitting in a rocking chair, but every day is a new adventure,” Dean explains.

The post Building Trust: Dean & His Six Shepherds appeared first on The Seeing Eye.