The Women’s Fellowship of Newtown Congregational Church held its annual potluck dinner in its Great Room on West Street and it gave Nina and Jeff Kellogg – with their brood black Labrador Nicki – a chance to tell people about Guiding Eyes for the Blind.

The Kelloggs have volunteered with the organization for the past l0 years and now as ambassadors enjoy telling others the joys of working with these exceptional animals.

Nicki has many puppies, which are now working as guide dogs, broods or studs. The Kelloggs have volunteered as puppy raisers, as socializers providing experiences in their own home for three to five days, providers of a loving foster home for broods, and home littercare to broods and their litters of puppies in their own home.

The Breeding and Placement Center is on Route 164 in Patterson, New York and the Training Center is at 611 Granite Springs Road in Yorktown Heights, New York. The puppies from these locations are living and working from Maine to North Carolina.

It is estimated that the cost of raising one pup from birth to being fully trained is $40,000.

Though most of the dogs are Labradors, five to 10 percent of the dogs are German Shepherds, Glads (a cross breed), or Golden Retrievers. The guide dogs and breeders have lifetime health plans.

Each puppy is easily tracked because the names are chosen by litter letters and even birth order in that particular litter.

Presently there are about 100 broods and 50 studs working. Some of the dogs are chosen for military or police work such as drug detection, and others are trained for therapy work. All are trained to have good house manners … as demonstrated by Nicki. She allowed the members of the Women’s Fellowship and their guests to pet her and she responded with great calm.

Other volunteers are needed as kennel volunteers to assist at the Patterson facility with the care of the puppies and adult dogs, as drivers to transport the puppies and dogs between local destination in a Guiding Eyes’ vehicle, or as administrative volunteer to the assist staff with general office tasks, digital photograph, and special projects.

To donate money or receive more information about programs or services, call 1-800-942-0149. Or, visit the website at www.guidingeyesbcweb.org.