Did you know that at any one time 2,000 Aussies are estimated to require support from a Seeing Eye Dog?

We want to help reduce this figure, so the Petbarn Foundation and Seeing Eye Dogs Australia (SEDA) are joining forces to urge Aussies like you to help raise much needed funds to assist those who have low vision.

From 13 April – 24 May 2015, all of our Petbarn stores across the country will be taking donations from anyone wishing to support this worthwhile cause.

This yea14274_0371r’s Appeal aims to top last year’s amazing result and raise over $210,000 to cover the costs of training six Seeing Eye Dogs.

It takes close to two years and costs $35,000 to train just one Seeing Eye Dog. This thorough training process starts with 12 months of caring and socialisation for the puppy as it grows into a dog.

The real work begins after the dog is one year old. The dog will receive up to 6 months of intensive advanced training with a specialised Instructor. After it completes this, it gets 2-3 weeks of residential training (this means –the puppy is trained in a  home environment). Finally, the dog receives 1-2 weeks training in the clients’ home. Once it’s completed this successfully, the dog graduates to being an official Seeing Eye Dog.

But the job doesn’t finish once its training ends, SEDA also manages follow up and aftercare for the life of the dog while it lives with its owner.

Unfortunately, not all dogs trained in the program will graduate to become an official SEDA dog, which is why it’s so important to raise funds to train as many dogs as possible through the program.

Seeing Eye Dogs help people that have low vision retain their independence and mobility. Often a Seeing Eye Dog is a far better option than using a cane, because they enable their owners move more quickly and navigate obstacles with much more reliability and safety. A Seeing Eye Dog can use its own initiative to stop at roads and move its owner out of the path of danger.

If you’d like to get involved simply head over to your local Petbarn store and make a donation in-store. If you can’t make it person, you can also make an online donation via www.petbarn.com.au/seeingeyedogs.