About Us

In 1928, a young man named Morris Frank and a German shepherd named Buddy proved to a crowd of reporters in New York City that a guide dog could open the world to a person who is blind. The Seeing Eye was founded the following year. Nearly a century later, that partnership remains at the heart of everything we do.

As The Seeing Eye approaches its 100th anniversary in 2029, we do so from a position of strength: a world-class breeding and training program, a dedicated staff, generous supporters, and graduates who show every day what independence looks like. But strength is not a reason to stand still. The world our graduates navigate is changing quickly. Veterinary costs are rising faster than inflation. Access to essential travel skills is uneven. Rideshare drivers, businesses, and public spaces still too often turn guide dog teams away. And new technology, including artificial intelligence, is reshaping how people who are blind or low vision move through the world.

This plan is our answer. It was built by listening to graduates, staff, volunteers, and trustees, and it commits us to a simple idea: the people who could benefit from a Seeing Eye® dog should not be kept from that partnership by cost, readiness, or a closed door.

Over the next four years, we will remove those barriers, embrace the tools that help our teams thrive, and make sure The Seeing Eye is stronger at 100 than it has ever been.

Our centennial is not only a milestone to celebrate. It is a moment to recommit to the students whose lives depend on this work, to the dogs and puppy raisers who make it possible, and to the belief that independence is not a privilege but a right. Thank you for walking this path with us.