March 25 Update: Status of Seeing Eye Dogs on Campus
By Glenn Hoagland, Seeing Eye President & CEO
Dear Supporters,
I hope that you continue to be well and remain healthy. Further to my update on Monday, March 23, we have acted on our goal of examining dog flow on campus and I have some updates on that point to share with you.
The Seeing Eye leadership team has been making plans to ensure that our dogs, who are now in the Washington Valley kennels, will be fostered, exercised and cared for, so that they remain healthy, happy and ready for renewed training as soon as we can resume. This change has the benefit of reducing the risk posed to kennel and clinic staff.
Our puppy development team reached out to current puppy raisers and invited them to temporarily foster these dogs. The response from our puppy raisers has been nothing short of amazing.
The first dogs left yesterday after receiving health checks. It looks like we will be able to get all of the dogs off the campus by April 10. We are continuing to support these dogs by providing the puppy raiser volunteers with any medication that the dogs require, providing veterinary consults over the phone, and arranging for veterinary treatment, if needed in the future.
In addition to the dogs in training that are being fostered out, the puppies in Chester continue to be placed with our puppy raisers. To protect our staff and volunteers, we have put in place detailed procedures for dog and puppy transfers, which include precautions such as social distancing.
I have been so impressed with the dedication of our staff and the puppy raising volunteers who responded swiftly and enthusiastically to our call for help, when it was decided to move the dogs off campus. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the individuals who have made this possible, and for their hard work on behalf of our collective staff, our dogs and our graduates.
Please stay safe and be well.
Click here to read the previous updates on The Seeing Eye's response to COVID-19.
