Guiding Eyes for the Blind Previews New Facility

A new development project at Guiding Eyes for the Blind's Canine Development Center in Patterson was unveiled to donors, board members and friends Saturday morning.

Calling the project funding campaign "One Step Ahead," Guiding Eyes president and CEO Bill Badger said that this project is "truly a giant step ahead."

The new 20,000 square-foot facility is being designed with function in mind, said the center's senior director, Jane Russenberger.  

"It will include space for instructional training and a veterinary space. And it will utilize green construction," she said.

Guests were greeted by a parade of puppies as three canine support technicians brought out three eight-week-old puppies who are on track to become future guide dogs.

Puppy-raiser Kelly Coney Pacious spoke about Vasco, the first of the five puppies she has raised, who attended the ceremonies with his handler, Guiding Eyes client Gary Bergman, of New York City.  

"Raising these puppies to be guide dogs is being able to give the gift of independence and freedom to someone else," said Pacious, who traveled from her North Carolina home to be there. "You love somebody so much and then let them go to do what they need to do,” she said.

Bergman spoke of what having Vasco has meant to him. 

"You develop trust. He always knows and he's always right," he told the crowd, and related a tale about a recent day when Bosco held his ground while walking in the streets of New York City and prevented Bergman from being struck by a bus.

Phase one of the construction project began in June 2010 and was completed the following December. If all the needed funds are raised, the second phase should be completed in 2013, according to Resource Director Janine Haughney.

Following several speeches, the guests were taken on tours of the present facility and shown how the project will improve training and medical facilities for Guiding Eyes' programs.