From the Golden Dome Foundation:

No question, all dogs go to heaven. For a select few, they spend some time on earth being trained at The Seeing Eye for a lifetime of service to people who are blind or with low vision.

As a nonprofit supported solely by donations, The Seeing Eye relies on the kindness of strangers, as well as long-time friends, such as the Golden Dome Foundation of Holmdel.

Five years ago, recognizing the need for better facilities for the guide dogs-in-training, the foundation provided $2 million to help build a state-of-the-art kennel on the 62-acre campus in Morris Township. Dogs reside there as they undergo the four-month training to become Seeing Eye® dogs.

To mark the five-year anniversary of the Dr. Robert H. Harris Canine Pavilion, foundation members were eager to gauge the impact of such a major donation.

Mary Ellen Harris, the foundation’s president, along with two of her board members, Judith Lolli and Paul Petigrow, spent time with the German shepherds, Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers and Lab/golden crosses, while getting a better understanding of how the pavilion has enhanced day-to-day operations.

Harris named the red brick building after her late husband, Dr. Harris, as she does with many of the major philanthropic endeavors of the foundation. The couple created the foundation together in 2015 to support charitable causes, most of which are based in New Jersey.

“It is with great pride that The Golden Dome Foundation Trustees chose to make this transformational gift to The Seeing Eye,” said Harris, also noting two other trustees, Col. Charles Grinnell and Michael Schwager.

“I have been in awe of the work of The Seeing Eye for many years. It is wonderful to come back here, five years later, and see the wide and lasting impact of our donation.”

“The generosity of the Golden Dome Foundation has enabled us to update our kennel facility to the benefit of our canine population and the staff who care for them,” said Daphne Halpern, director of philanthropy for The Seeing Eye.

“Mary Ellen Harris and the Golden Dome Foundation continue to be valued partners in ensuring the well-being of our dogs while they live and train at The Seeing Eye’s Washington Valley campus,” Halpern said.

Harris, an avid dog lover who is typically with her canine companion, Fay, said she is amazed at the care which the potential guides receive; from breeding to training to matching. The Seeing Eye, she said, continually distinguishes itself as a leader in creating guide dogs.

“The dogs and blind individuals with whom they are matched create extraordinary partnerships,” Harris said. “As we tour this pavilion, and meet the staff, volunteers and these happy dogs, I am pleased that we were able to make such a philanthropic impact.

“My husband, Bob, worked throughout his life to ensure healthy lives for individuals stricken with disease,” she added. “I know he would be proud, as well, to see what has occurred over the past five years, as 1,000 dogs are now helping people.”

STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY

The pavilion features comfortable living quarters, and gives the dogs direct access to covered all-weather exercise areas. The facility is filled with natural light, state-of-the-art ventilation and air exchange systems and well-designed dog grooming and food prep areas.

The pavilion incorporates new technology and information from the most current research aimed at increasing stimulation and a sense of well-being, making the dogs feel more comfortable and improving the success of their training.

Established in 1929, The Seeing Eye provides specially bred and trained dogs to guide people who are blind. Fees have remained unchanged since the 1930s – $150 for the first Seeing Eye dog and $50 for a replacement dog. Military veterans still are charged only $1.

It costs about $75,000 to train each dog, and The Seeing Eye relies on individuals, foundations, corporations, bequests and other planned gifts to fund its $33.7 million budget, supporting large campuses in Morris Township and Chester.

“Our foundation is not about writing a check and moving on,” said Lolli, a Golden Dome trustee. “As fiscal stewards, the trustees take enormous care in deciding which organizations to support and then building ongoing relationships. It is why we return, again and again, to visit our recipients and witness the impact of our philanthropy.

“I want to ensure my husband’s legacy is squarely focused on being strategic, transformational and lasting,” Harris added. “The Seeing Eye serves as an ideal example.”