89 pups took to Newark International Airport this weekend as part of their training to become seeing eye dogs.
The dogs, a host of German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Poodles, and Labrador Retrievers, are part of the New Jersey organization The Seeing Eye, which trains dogs to help the visually impaired.
According to NJ.com, the dogs and their handlers went through all the different stages of a visit to the airport, in order to prepare the dogs for anything they might face as seeing eye dogs. For about three hours, they went through ticketing, security, baggage claim, and even boarded a plane.
“We have to make sure the dogs are steady when there’s a lot of noise so they’re confident and it doesn’t scare them,” Jeanne Kollmer, a longtime puppy raiser, told NJ.com. “It’s so many different experiences you can have in one venue.”
Not only was this a learning experience for the dogs, but the visit also brought smiles to other travelers at the airport.
“You’re making a difference in someone else’s life, there’s nothing better than that,” Kollmer said.
Way to go, pups! Learn more about Seeing Eye and the work they do training seeing eye dogs and matching them with individuals in need, here.
See the pups as they work through the airport in the video below.