Our Mission
Guiding Eyes for the Blind provides guide dogs to people with vision loss. We are passionate about connecting exceptional dogs with individuals for greater independence. Guiding Eyes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with all services provided completely free of charge. One guide dog team costs approximately $50,000 - $100,000 to breed, raise, train, match, and support over the lifetime of the team's work together. All of our services are provided free of charge to people who are blind or visually impaired. Guiding Eyes receives little to no government funding. Our support comes almost entirely from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
Guiding Eyes for the Blind recently developed a Running Guides program that is the only program of its kind in the world. These extensively tested and trained dogs enable people who are blind and visually impaired to run with only their guide dog’s support. For the first time, runners with vision loss don’t have to be reliant on human guides or limited to the treadmill. Having a Running Guide enhances independence, autonomy and overall physical fitness — whether the team is going for a casual run in the park or training for a marathon. In fact, last year, CEO Thomas Panek made history by becoming the first person to complete the NYC Half Marathon led by guide dogs.
Puppy Raising
Volunteer puppy raisers take pups into their homes at approximately eight weeks old and teach them basic obedience and house manners while socializing them to everything the world has to offer! Puppy raisers return the dogs at 16-18 months old, and our senior breeding and training staff determine whether the pups are ready for guide dog training or more suited for another career.
