2 Long Valley Teens Honored For Raising Seeing-Eye Dogs

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Amid Blindness Awareness Month, two local teens have been awarded scholarships for their work with The Seeing Eye, a Morristown-based nonprofit that matches seeing-eye dogs with the visually impaired.

Jacqueline Fritsch and Hannah Macintyre each received scholarships to continue their education after raising seeing-eye dogs that will eventually be donated to a blind person.

The pair was each responsible for providing a loving household for their respective puppies for a year, teaching the dogs basic obedience and house manners.

The “puppy raisers” were also responsible for taking their puppies to Seeing Eye puppy club meetings and socialization trips in their area.

“Puppy raisers must live within New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, or New York so they can attend regular puppy club meetings where they will receive help and coaching with their puppies,” a statement read. “All veterinary and food expenses are covered by The Seeing Eye. If a Seeing Eye puppy does not graduate from the program, the family who raised the puppy is offered the first option to adopt the puppy they raised.”

Jacqueline will use her scholarship to attend Rutgers University, and Hannah will use hers to attend County College of Morris.

Twenty other individuals were honored with the scholarship, including another Morris County resident, Nina Bohensky, who will attend Moravian University.

The Seeing Eye was established in 1929 and has been helping blind people find seeing-eye dogs for nearly 100 years. According to the nonprofit, the dog’s handlers “experience greatly enhanced mobility and independence, allowing them to retain their active lifestyles.”

To learn more about The Seeing Eye and to learn how to become a “pupper raiser,” visit its website here.