In Part 1 we got a glimpse inside the whelping kennel at Guiding Eyes’ Canine Development Center (CDC). Down the hall and a flight of stairs, the breeding kennel runs in parallel. The two sides feed each other in support of a common mission but function independently day-to-day. Where the whelping kennel caters to broods and pups during the birthing, neonatal, and earliest socialization stages of development, the breeding kennel serves a complementary but developmentally distinct array of needs in the life of a service dog. Daily breeding kennel activities include : continuation of socialization for pups coming out of …

Nestled in the hillside along NY 164 in Patterson, NY is Guiding Eyes for the Blind’s Canine Development Center (CDC). Don’t blink or you might miss it; I did. Modest as it is from the road, what goes on inside is magnificent. The CDC is where the journey of all Guiding Eyes guide and autism service dogs begins. Since my wife and I began volunteering for Guiding Eyes Eastern Massachusetts Puppy Raising Region in 2008, we have had the pleasure to work with numerous pups, many of whom went on to life-altering service careers. But where do these pups come …