It’s Seeing Eye Dog Day! Learn All About the Seeing Eye in Morristown, NJ
Did you know? The oldest guide dog school in the world happens to be in New Jersey! Since 1929, The Seeing Eye, Inc in Morristown, NJ has helped people who are blind discover the exhilarating experience of traveling with a Seeing Eye® dog.
In pursuit of this mission, The Seeing Eye breeds and raises puppies to become Seeing Eye dogs, trains Seeing Eye dogs to guide blind people, instructs blind people in the proper use, handling, and care of the dogs, and conducts and supports research on canine health and development.
View this post on Instagram
The Seeing Eye welcomes students, groups, and individuals to visit the campus and learn more about the world’s oldest guide dog school through the Seeing Eye Public Visit Program. The program includes a presentation by an instructor with a Seeing Eye® dog and a question-and-answer session with a Seeing Eye graduate.
Thirteen times a year, as many as 24 students at a time come from across the United States and Canada to their campus in Morristown, NJ to train with their new Seeing Eye dogs. Students range in age from 16 to senior citizens.
The Seeing Eye has played an integral part in shaping public policy guaranteeing access and accommodation to people who use service animals. They are a founding member of the U.S. Council of Guide Dog Schools and a fully accredited member of the International Guide Dog Federation, a lead researcher in canine genetics, breeding, disease control, and behavior.
In 2005, a bronze sculpture of founder Morris Frank and his guide dog Buddy was installed near Morristown Green. Created by sculptor John Seward Johnson II, the piece captures the duo in mid-step as Frank raises his right hand in the “Forward” command.
In 2020, Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill into law making the Seeing Eye dog the state dog.
Find out about careers at The Seeing Eye, learn about ways to volunteer, or how to donate.
