The Atlantic Shores/Guiding Eyes For The Blind “Puppy Love Program” will be one of the first in the nation to link the generations in a partnership that will ultimately provide guide dogs matched to deserving individuals. The program will launch at Atlantic Shores, an energetic 100-acre retirement community in Virginia Beach, Virginia, which will embrace their newest, smallest residents — two 10-week old black Labrador puppies named Joanie, and Godrick.
This unique program will be a partnership with Guiding Eyes For The Blind (GEB), an internationally accredited, nonprofit guide dog school with a 50-year legacy of providing the blind and visually impaired with superior Guiding Eyes dogs and lifetime support services, for free.
Specially selected puppies will be matched with Atlantic Shores resident raisers Linda Palminteri and Jack Stokes who, along with a support team of fellow residents and Atlantic Shores staff, will open their homes and hearts to raise the puppies during a critical time in their lives. The puppies will live with their Atlantic Shores raisers, with GEB volunteers leading training sessions to help the puppies undergo crucial behavioral training. All veterinary care, major supplies, and personal support are provided by Guiding Eyes.
The “Puppy Love Program” will also include partnerships with Ocean Lakes and Corporate Landing Elementary Schools in Virginia Beach, where a special curriculum will help students understand the invaluable service these puppies will eventually provide, and how to properly interact with guide dogs they see in the community. The puppies and their Atlantic Shores resident raisers will make visits to the schools as part of their socialization training. Students will also follow the puppies’ progress with student reporter segments and Puppy-Cam shots broadcast on the schools’ in-classroom TV feed.
“Puppy Love” fans from around the world can follow the progress of these tiny heroes by logging on to , where a Dog-Blog and Puppy-Cam (including shots from a dog’s eye level of view) will track the puppies’ adventures. Fans can also like them on Facebook
