KINGSTON, RI – November 4, 2024 – Service dogs offer assistance to individuals limited by mobility or medical issues, providing them with medical alerts, mental health support, companionship, and emotional comfort. URI’s Puppy Raiser Club gives students the opportunity to work with future guide dogs and learn the process behind training to be of service.

Based in New York, Guiding Eyes for the Blind is a nonprofit organization that works closely with the Puppy raisers Club. The organization provides guide dogs to the visually impaired free of charge and rely on volunteers and donations to fulfill their mission.

Led by president Kevin Buretta, students work with current dogs Chip, Fabien and Unity on the correct ways to handle the future guide dogs. Buretta is a senior biology major at URI, currently raising Chip. Buretta has been raising Chip for over a year and is in the final stages of preparing him for his In-For-Training (IFT).

Once the dog is 14 to 18 months old, they will go in for IFT. It is during this formal training where it is determined whether the dog is to become a guide dog or be dismissed from their service. Once a dog passes their IFT, they begin the process of being matched. This is determined based on both the dog and the person’s personality, pace and preference.

To be able to sit for and raise a future guide dog, students must become certified. The first step in becoming certified is to attend a one hour information session, hosted by Regional Puppy Instructor Maureen Hollis. Students are then required to fill out a release form, allowing Guiding Eyes to contact references and conduct a criminal background check.Training to become a sitter and a raiser are the same, but URI students cannot raise a future guide dog until they live off campus.

Learn more about how you can get involved here.
This article was written by Erin Malinn, class of 2028.