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Guiding Eyes for the Blind Opens Puppy Raising Program to New York City Residents for First Time this June

New York, NY (PRWEB) May 8, 2007 -- New Yorkers are invited to take part in Guiding Eyes for the Blind's unique and heartwarming volunteer Puppy Raising Program starting in June, marking the first time city residents will have the chance so close to home to volunteer in the 50 years the organization has been providing guide dogs here.

Guiding Eyes, one of the world's leading guide dog schools, will launch the New York City Puppy Raising Region with a pre-placement class at Visions, located at135 West 23rd Street, June 4. Along with the opportunity to meet trainers and puppies, participants will hear from two city dwellers whose lives have been profoundly changed by their guide dogs.

"We are very excited to give New Yorkers the chance to raise Guiding Eyes puppies," said Linda Damato, Regional Marketing Manager for Guiding Eyes. "Puppies who grow up in the city and learn to be comfortable in all aspects of the urban environment will have a huge advantage when they begin their guide dog training."

Guiding Eyes' Canine Development Center (www.cdc.guidingeyes.org), located in Patterson, NY, selectively breeds Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever and German Shepherd dogs for guide dog work. At 8-10 weeks old, the puppies are sent home with volunteers who raise the young dogs at home for 14-16 months, offering time, love and training to teach them house manners and socialize them in numerous situations.

Volunteers are supported with regular guidance, training classes and free veterinary care, and often develop a unique camaraderie as they prepare the dogs to move on to the next steps in their training. Many Puppy Raisers consider their Guiding Eyes experience the most inspirational and fulfilling work they've ever done.

Artist Gary Bergman, a Manhattan resident who was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at age three and started using a cane by the time he was a teenager, says that taking home his first guide dog, Vasco, in March brought him a sense of joy and freedom he hadn't experienced since childhood.

"You get used to a routine, a way of life, and change can be frightening," said Bergman, who used the cane until his wife and a friend, George Ashiotis, convinced him to try a guide dog last year. Ashiotis is co-director of Manhattan's Theater by the Blind, and Bergman, who also participates in the troupe, is a playwright and sound design artist, among many other talents.

"The first time the dog and I stepped outside after I got home, I just stopped," Bergman said. "I had this incredible moment of panic -- no safety net, no trainers, no boundaries, just me and the dog. And then this enormous smile burst across my face because I went from feeling fear to absolute empowerment. With two simple words, 'let's go,' I felt myself moving through space in a way I hadn't felt it in 25 years."

Ashiotis got his first guide dog from Guiding Eyes almost 20 years ago and graduated with his third dog, Blake, last December. "For me the difference between having a dog and using a cane is the fluidity of motion and grace that walking with a guide dog affords me," he said. "With a cane, walking was just about getting from point A to point B. Now I enjoy going out for a walk for the sheer joy of being outside and walking."

Bergman said that meeting the volunteer who raised Vasco on his graduation day at Guiding Eyes was an emotional experience. "We call her Aunt Kelly," he said, "and we email each other." For Ashiotis, one of the most touching moments of his December graduation came when Blake's Puppy Raiser presented him with a photo album that included three of Blake's puppy teeth.

Both Bergman and Ashiotis will attend the June 4 event.    
    
For more information about the Guiding Eyes Puppy Raising program or the June 4 pre-placement class at Visions, contact Rachel Silverman at 845-230-6406 or call the Canine Development Center at 1-866-GEB-LABS. Visit the Canine Development Center's Web site at www.cdc.guidingeyes.org.


About Guiding Eyes for the Blind
In 1954, Guiding Eyes for the Blind was founded to enrich the lives of blind and visually impaired men and women. Since that time, Guiding Eyes has become one of the foremost guide dog schools in the world, graduating more than 6,000 guide dog teams. Guiding Eyes for the Blind is a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. It provides professionally trained Guiding Eyes dogs, training and lifetime support services to students free of charge with funds raised solely through the generosity of individuals, corporations, foundations and civic organizations. Guiding Eyes for the Blind's Headquarters and Training Center is located in Yorktown Heights, New York and its Canine Development Center is located in Patterson, New York.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Both Gary Bergman and George Ashiotis are available to do media interviews about Guiding Eyes for the Blind, the Puppy Raising Program and the June 4 event. Please contact Linda Damato at 845-230-6405 to set up an interview.

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