Home Socialization

| Home Socialization

Home Socialization volunteers give our puppies one-on-one attention while introducing them to new sights and sounds in a home environment. These new experiences boost our puppies’ confidence and gives them the greatest chance for success as they proceed through the Guiding Eyes program.

Share your home with our adorable puppies

Home Socializers bring two puppies, ages six to nine weeks old, into their home for three to five days to provide socialization and reinforce simple aspects of the pups’ training. These include massage, leash walking, riding in cars, sitting for meals, crate time, name response and other skills.

Home Socialization Video

Learn more about volunteering in the Home Socialization Program from one of our Home Socializer families. Watch the video.

Responsibilities

Home Socialization Volunteers must:

pick up and deliver puppies and equipment at the Canine Development Center in Patterson.
successfully complete Home Socialization training.
be willing to provide training and socialization experiences per the guidelines.
be able to take puppies at least six times a year for a period of three to five days (Participants are not limited and may sign up as many times as they like each month.)
provide a spot in the home with sufficient room for the x-pen, with a durable floor that can be easily cleaned, such as a kitchen or playroom, where the puppies can be near lots of activity.
keep the puppies play pen clean, fully scrubbing and disinfecting the area once per day, plus frequent changing of the paper.
feed the puppies three times per day.
socialize the puppies in frequent short sessions throughout the day, totaling about 20 minutes per puppy.
groom the puppies daily.
adhere to vaccination protocol for other dogs in the home. (see below)

Vaccination Requirements for Pets

Volunteers who have other pets in the home can participate in this program, but they must be healthy, free of fleas and other parasites and friendly towards puppies. To best protect your pet dogs and the Guiding Eyes puppies coming in and out of your homes, we have instituted the following vaccination policy. Your dogs must be up to date on the required vaccines:

Required Vaccinations

Rabies
Bordetella
DHPP

Strongly Recommended

H3N2 Flu
H3N8 Flu

Recommended

Lyme
Leptospirosis

Support We Provide

Home Socializers are provided with all the equipment and supplies needed for puppy care, including an exercise pen, a crate for transportation and socialization, leashes, food, bowls, and toys. This does not include newspaper nor a surface protector for floors (strongly recommended).
Guiding Eyes Veterinary staff is on call for health and veterinary concerns. An emergency number is provided for after-hours calls.

Have a question? Email us at socialization@guidingeyes.org

Application – Home Socialization (Short-term Puppy Visits)

If you are interested in becoming involved in our Home Socialization Program, submit this application and the Home Socialization Coordinator will contact you in 7- 10 business days to discuss your application in greater detail.

All volunteers are asked to review and adhere to a Code of Conduct.

For additional information, please contact HS Program Coordinator at socialization@guidingeyes.org.

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Aug 12

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Aug 10

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Congratulations to guide dog Kinley, the winner of the Guide/Hearing category for the 2022 American Humane Hero Dog Awards, and his handler Chloe!
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Kinley still needs your help in the 3rd round of voting to be named the overall 2022 American Hero Dog. You can vote for Kinley 1x per day through September 13th, 3 PM (EST) by clicking the link in our Instagram Highlights.
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Photo Description: Chloe smiles happily with her yellow lab guide dog Kinley sitting at her feet. Kinley's puppy raiser, Elizabeth, sits on the red bench to the left of Chloe.
Photo Credit: @puppy_raising_tales via @geb_southerntier
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#HeroDogAwards #AssistanceDogWeek #HeroDogAwards2022 #InternationalAssistanceDogWeek #AmericanHeroDogAwards #AssistanceDogsOfInstagram #WoofWednesday #AmericanHeroDogAwards2022 #WagginWednesday #IADW2022 #WoofWoofWednesday #AssistanceDogWeek2022 #WaggingWednesday #InternationalAssistanceDogWeek2022 #AmericanHumaneHeroDogAwards

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Aug 1

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We are excited to share that our Kennel Enrichment Volunteer positions are now available at our Training School Kennels in Yorktown Heights, New York! Volunteers will help us to provide an optimal environment for our adult dogs by assisting with the ever-present tasks of feeding, cleaning and grooming which takes up approximately 2/3 of the time. Once the necessary tasks are completed, volunteers will enjoy spending time interacting with our dogs by playing with dogs using dog toys, walking our dogs and taking our wonderful dogs to Planet Dog Community run located on our Yorktown campus!
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Shifts are available:
Monday through Friday: 8am - 12pm and 12pm - 4pm
Weekends: 9am - 12pm and 12pm - 4pm
Learn more and apply on our website
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Learn more and apply on our website by clicking the link in our bio.
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Picture Description: Einstein, an adorable adult yellow lab, lays in the fenced Community Run play area with a @nylabone chew resting on his front legs. Einstein has his head tilted slightly for the camera with his tongue hanging out with a big smile.
Photo Credit: Meghan Davis
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#YorktownHeights #VolunteerWithDogs #YorktownHeightsNewYork #HudsonValleyHappenings #YorktownHeightsNY #WestchesterCountyNY #FutureGuideDog #LifeIsGoodWithDogs #GuidingEyesForTheBlind

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Jul 25

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Jul 22

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On Tuesday, we welcomed David Nausch, a representative from Rye Subaru, to our Training School campus in Yorktown Heights, NY. Alyssa David, Foundation Guide Dog Mobility Instructor, gave a wonderful demonstration on guide dog training with the assistance of VanDyke, a yellow lab guide dog.
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Our friends at Rye Subaru have supported our mission these past few years through their Share the Love event. This year, they presented us with a check for $14,953! Thank you, Rye Subaru, for your generous support that will help change lives.
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Photo Descriptions:
[1] Yellow lab guide dog VanDyke lays in harness on the paved path to the left of the oversized check from Rye Subaru.
[2] A group photo on the nature path. Left to right: Rebekah Cross, Director of Donor Relations, with guide dog Regal, a senior black lab wearing a blue Guiding Eyes bandana, David Nausch, Rye Subaru representative holding the oversized check, Alyssa David, Foundation Guide Dog Mobility Instructor, with VanDyke, a yellow lab guide dog in harness, and Elena Consalvo, Chief Development Officer.
[3] VanDyke, a yellow lab guide dog, looks up to "check-in" after leading Alyssa to the plastic grey chair during their training demonstration.
[4] A 2 photo collage. On the right side, David greets black and tan German Shepherd Kindra in the hallway of the Training School. On the left side, David gives VanDyke a pet on the head after the group photo on the nature path.
Photos: @zoeandthepeach
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#RyeSubaru #ShareTheLove #DonorLove #GuideDog #ShareTheLoveEvent #CommunityOutreach #SubaruShareTheLove #GuidingEyesForTheBlind #DonorLove #GuideDogInTraining #WestchesterNY #GuideDogsOfIG #Philanthropy #CommunityMatters

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Jul 21

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Guiding Eyes for the Blind is approved by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501 (C) (3) tax-exempt organization, and all donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. Guiding Eyes for the Blind Federal Identification Number (EIN) is 13-1854606.

Share your home with our adorable puppies

Home Socialization Video

Responsibilities

Vaccination Requirements for Pets

Support We Provide

Application – Home Socialization (Short-term Puppy Visits)

Application – Home Socialization (Short-term Puppy Visits)

Guiding Eyes for the Blind

Headquarters and Training School

For donations:

(800) 942-0149

For changes to your account:

(800) 937-2083

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