by Jeff Garrett

If you ever wondered how a seeing eye dog earns its so-called certificate to practice, The Seeing Eye, Inc. 

non-profit organization in Morris County, NJ is an institution which knows, having graduated 

thousands of dogs to folks in need in history.  The organization recently celebrated its 18,000th pairing.

The facility at 1 Seeing Eye Way in Morristown, helps match puppies with over 130 volunteers to train them. Some are repeat, recurring trainers while some are newbies giving it a go for the first time having 

received training themselves – earning their pedigree of sorts.  

“Volunteers start to raise puppies as early as 8 weeks,” says Michelle Barlak, Spokesperson and Senior 

Specialist of Public Relations of the organization who runs the Sussex County, NJ club in Ogdensburg.

“Then they are home for a year with a trainer where they learn things like house manners, house 

training, socialization and obedience.” After 14-16 months, the trained puppies are returned to the 

seeing eye dog facility where they undergo a veterinary exam to ensure they will be reliable seeing eye 

dogs and thereafter, spend four months with a paid full-time instructor. That elevates the dogs to where 

they can be paired with someone in need where they spend two to three weeks getting acclimated 

to their new master.

There are breeding clubs in New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware. At each club 

puppy raisers get lots of support according to Barlak. “The dogs receive veterinary care and 

the trainers get a stipend for dog food. There are puppy club meetings and classes run by puppy club 

leaders which help new raisers.” If you become a leader, these folks must do things away from the site 

club and in the community such as taking dogs to malls, fairs, festivals in outings where the dogs get 

increased socialization opportunities. This is particularly advantageous for the dogs since they need 

to be ready to assist their new owners navigating social settings. 

Veterans training these dogs gain admittance to the “21 Club,” when they’ve successfully raised 21 

Dogs. Trainers are kids, teens, adults and senior citizens – some as young as 9 some in their 70’s and 

80’s.  If you’re a younger trainer and plan on going to College, there’s a scholarship program the non-

profit offers to graduating seniors. In fact, each August there’s a “Family Day,” which is an appreciation 

event for many and where scholarships are awarded.

With a sophisticated program in place, one might wonder how all of this is financed.

“It costs $73,000 to breed, raise and train puppies,” added barlak, which seems like a staggering 

amount, with donations from areas each club serves as there main funding source; the 

organization doe not receive a penny of government funding.  

If one needs a dog, it costs $150.00 for the first animal and $50.00 thereafter for each 

subsequent one.  Veterans get dogs for just $1.00, a benefit of sorts to those who’ve served.

Since a dog’s life span is usually much shorter than that of most people, one in need could need up to 

several dogs in their lifetime; receiving one for $50.00 becomes quite a cost-saving boom.

One trainer who has made a name for herself is Bonnie DiCola of Boonton Township in Morris County. 

Her club, “4-Footed Leaders,” goes so far as to be integrated into the curriculum at Cedar Hill 

Elementary School where she works as the school nurse. She’s trying to get students to appreciate this 

Service, on some of them may need at some point in their lives. 

In it’s eighth decade of service, The Seeing Eye shows no signs of slowing down, which is 

what those in need of help from K-9 furry friends of fours look for, as the need itself, hardly slows down. 

For more information on The Seeing Eye, Inc., logon to https://www.seeingeye.org.