Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind

09/01/2026

Meet the puppies carrying forward the legacies of American disability advocates! 🦮🇺🇸

In celebration of National Guide Dog Month and America’s 250th anniversary, we named a special litter in honor of advocates who helped create a more accessible and inclusive country.

Now, you can help the next generation of guide dogs make an impact of their own through Give Bark 250! Throughout September, every donation will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $50,000, thanks to Bonnie Hagerman.

Donate $250 or more to receive a limited-edition Guide Dog Foundation x America250 commemorative pin while supplies last.

Tap the link below to make your gift and help individuals who are blind or have low vision Live Without Boundaries®.

https://www.guidedog.org/GiveBark250

VD:
Each photo features a black Lab puppy and a name card beside them. The puppies are each laying on a blue towel on top of green grass and in front of trees. The name card beside them features their name, after U.S. disability advocates, as well as the Guide Dog Foundation's logo and America250's logo. In order are Helen, Jacob, Judy, Haben, Marla, Lisa, Marca, Jen, Dennis, Stevie.

08/31/2026

We hope all of our volunteers and graduates are enjoying the start of a new school year! 🦮📝

VD:
Each photo taken is in front of a step-and-repeat for the University of Georgia’s Department of Animal & Dairy Science.

1 - A young yellow Lab is lying looking at the camera. She wears her yellow vest, a blue bandana around her neck, and a pink leash. Her tough it out.
2 - A golden retriever assistance dog in training is lying on the floor.On the left side of the dog is a sign that reads “First Day of Class!” In the first picture, they are looking at the camera calmly.
3 - The same golden and another yellow Lab pose next to each other in front of the same background.

08/31/2026

Want to raise a puppy for someone who is blind or has low vision, but still have questions?

Join one of our upcoming virtual information sessions led by the Guide Dog Foundation Puppy Department! Learn what it takes to raise a future guide dog and how puppy raisers help prepare each dog for their important role.

Sessions will be held on Zoom:

Wednesday, September 2, at 10:00 a.m. ET
Thursday, September 17, at 12:00 p.m. ET

Tap the link below to register. 🦮

https://form.jotform.com/240435222922044

VD:
A black Labrador puppy sits wearing a yellow GuideDog.org and VetDogs.org vest. Text reads: “Puppy Raising Info Session. Interested in puppy raising for the Guide Dog Foundation & America’s VetDogs? Save the dates: Wednesday, September 2 at 10:00 AM ET and Thursday, September 17 at 12:00 PM ET via Zoom. Sign up using the link in the caption!”

Please click the link to complete this form.

08/28/2026

Your legacy can support the blind and low vision community for years to come. 🦮

Swipe through to reveal five reasons to include the Guide Dog Foundation in your estate plans. Learn more at GuideDog.PlannedGiving.org.

VD:
All seven graphics have a dark blue paw-print background with gold and white text.
1 - Text reads: “5 reasons to include the Guide Dog Foundation in your will.”
2 - Text reads: “It’s a source of comfort. You’ll know your final wishes will be respected and that the people and causes you care about will be looked after.”
3 - Text reads: “You’ll be a major philanthropist. A gift through your estate is often the most significant gift you’ll ever make, helping to provide life-changing guide dogs at no cost to individuals who are blind or have low vision.”
4 - Text reads: “You’ll protect your loved ones. With a will, you decide who receives what—not the state—including care for loved ones, pets, and the causes that tell your life story.”
5 - Text reads: “It’s a simple way to do a lot of good. Including the Guide Dog Foundation in your will is an easy way to make a lasting difference, without affecting your day-to-day cash flow.”
6 - Text reads: “You can always make changes. A gift to the Guide Dog Foundation in your estate plan is flexible—you can update the amount, the type of assets, or the part of our mission you wish to support as your needs or wishes change.”
7 - Text reads: “Ready to make yours? Visit GuideDog.PlannedGiving.org to learn more about including the Guide Dog Foundation in your will! Save for later!”

08/27/2026

Join America’s VetDogs and the Guide Dog Foundation for a Volunteer Open House commemorating the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001.

In partnership with 9/11 Day, we are coming together as part of the September 11 National Day of Service to help transform one of the darkest days in our history into a day of unity and doing good.

Explore our volunteer opportunities, meet members of our community, tour our campus, and participate in hands-on service projects.

September 10, 2026 | 3:00–7:00 p.m.
371 E. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown, NY 11787

No registration is required. Learn more: https://www.guidedog.org/AV/E_and_N/VetDogsEvents/Open_House_GuideDogFoundation.aspx

VD:
Volunteer Open House flyer featuring volunteers and puppies from the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs. A woman holds a black Lab puppy, and a Golden Retriever puppy sits at the bottom. The event is September 10, 2026, from 3–7 PM in Smithtown, NY. The event is free, no registration is required, and includes volunteer opportunities, campus tours, hands-on projects, and food trucks.

The Guide Dog Foundation and its sister organization, America’s VetDogs is opening its campus doors to the public on July 23, from 3:00 to 7:00pm. Come experience service dog demonstrations, speak to local veterans and first responders about how their service dog has improved their lives, explor...

08/26/2026

What makes a space truly welcoming? It begins with listening to the people who will experience it.

Our Building for the Future Spotlight Series continues with Chris Downey, principal of Architecture for the Blind. Chris’s work focuses on enriching environments for people who are blind or have low vision. His projects, ranging from rehabilitation centers to cultural spaces, draw upon his 20 years of architectural experience before losing his sight in 2008 and his continued practice since then.

Chris also serves on the California Commission on Disability Access, teaches at UC Berkeley, and shares his expertise with audiences around the world. As we plan our new Puppy Development & Visitor Center, his lived experience and professional perspective are helping us consider how the building will feel, function, and welcome everyone who walks through its doors.

We are grateful for his partnership as we create a center where accessibility is part of the vision from the very beginning.

Together, we’re building for what’s next. Learn how you can support the Puppy Development & Visitor Center: www.GuideDog.org/Build or www.VetDogs.org/Build.

VD:
1 - Blue and gold Building for the Future graphic with the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs logos. A rendering shows the future Puppy Development & Visitor Center with outdoor seating. Text reads, “Recognizing the partners helping bring our vision for the Puppy Development & Visitor Center to life.”
2 - Architecture for the Blind spotlight graphic with a portrait of architect Chris Downey. Text explains that Downey is a blind architect and accessibility expert who brings lived experience and an understanding of how people who are blind or have low vision navigate the new building.
3 - Their Impact graphic with a rendering of the future Visitor Center. Text explains that Architecture for the Blind is working with Studio Miers | Chou | P**n Architecture to include accessibility in the design through wayfinding, safety, acoustics, materials, and other sensory cues.
4 - Blue and gold graphic with the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs logos. Text reads, “Together, we’re building for what’s next.” It invites people to support the Puppy Development & Visitor Center by visiting GuideDog.org/Build.

08/21/2026

Training anytime, any place!

When an individual who is blind or has low vision is matched with a guide dog, the Guide Dog Foundation covers the cost of their travel to our National Headquarters in Smithtown, New York. There, they complete two weeks of training with a certified Guide Dog Mobility Instructor.

Throughout class, students take daily trips to a variety of real-world environments they may encounter with their guide dogs after graduation. These outings help each handler build confidence and develop the skills needed to problem-solve on the go.

Want to support our guide dog program? Tap the below to learn more. 🦮

https://www.guidedog.org/GD/gd/GDF_DonateNow.aspx

VD:
1. A smiling woman walks through a grocery store aisle with a yellow Labrador guide dog beside her while pulling a shopping cart.
2. A woman stands on a treadmill at Planet Fitness while a black Labrador guide dog lies on the floor beside her and looks up at her.
3. A woman and her black Labrador guide dog sit together in an oversized blue chair by the water. The chair reads “Port Jeff” and “ .”
4. A smiling woman kneels beside a black Standard Poodle guide dog inside a mall. The dog wears a guide harness and a colorful fruit-patterned bandana.