Celebrated on 01/29/2026
The first guide dog school in the United States, The Seeing Eye, was founded in 1929 by Dorothy Harrison Eustis, who was inspired by guide dog programs in Europe. National Seeing Eye Guide Dog Anniversary is celebrated on January 29th each year, marking the anniversary of the school's founding.
National Seeing Eye Guide Dog Anniversary was established to commemorate the founding of The Seeing Eye, the first guide dog school in the United States, on January 29, 1929. The school was founded by Dorothy Harrison Eustis, an American philanthropist who had witnessed the effectiveness of guide dogs for blind veterans in Germany after World War I. Eustis wrote an article titled "The Seeing Eye" for The Saturday Evening Post in 1927, which inspired a blind man named Morris Frank to contact her. Frank traveled to Switzerland to train with a guide dog named Buddy, and upon returning to the U.S., he became the first American to use a guide dog. Together, Eustis and Frank established The Seeing Eye in Nashville, Tennessee, later moving it to Morristown, New Jersey.
Over the decades, guide dog training and usage have evolved significantly. Initially, training methods were rudimentary, but advancements in animal behavior and technology have refined the process. Today, guide dogs are trained using positive reinforcement and are matched with individuals based on lifestyle, mobility needs, and personality. National Seeing Eye Guide Dog Anniversary is now celebrated by guide dog schools, organizations, and individuals who honor the partnership between humans and dogs. Events include open houses at training facilities, fundraising walks, and social media campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of guide dogs. The day also highlights the ongoing need for volunteer puppy raisers and the high costs associated with breeding and training guide dogs.
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