Planet Dog Foundation completes recreation area for Guiding Eyes for the Blind

The Planet Dog Foundation (PDF), Planet Dog's non-profit arm, is proud to announce the completion of a new recreation area for Guiding Eyes for the Blind (GED). Last Fall, PDF awarded a $38,000 grant to Guiding Eyes, the internationally accredited, non-profit guide dog school, to build the Planet Dog Canine Recreation Area at their campus in Yorktown Heights, NY. For over 50 years, Guiding Eyes for the Blind has been providing the blind and visually impaired with superior Guiding Eyes dogs, training and lifetime support services.

The Guiding Eyes for the Blind family of professionals, volunteers and donors are committed to giving their students the gift of greater personal freedom, independence and dignity by providing them with the finest bred and trained guide dogs in the world. The new outdoor play and exercise provides natural outlets for dogs' natural desire to chew play in a pack and stay physically fit. The area, which is equipped with Planet Dog toys, a bubble machine, outdoor gym sets, pools and other recreational items, reduces stress, helps with overall fitness, improves socialization and provides exposure to various sites, sounds and textures. It also makes for a better night's sleep after sufficient exercise and play.

"We are very excited about our relationship with the Planet Dog Foundation," says Lisa Deutsch, Vice President of Marketing and Development for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. "Our kennel staff is over the moon from their amazing contribution and it has raised all of our spirits," adds Deutsch.

The mission of the Planet Dog Foundation is to promote and celebrate programs in which dogs serve and support their best friends. In addition to the grant to GED, last Fall PDF also awarded grants ranging from $1,000- $10,000 to: Dogs for Diabetics in Concord, CA; TX Hearing and Service Dogs in Austin, TX; Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, VA; Freedom Service Dogs in Lakewood, CO and Channel Thirteen/ WNET TV in New York City.

This past Spring, grants ranging from $3,000- $7,000 were also awarded to: Assistance Dogs of the West; Gabriel's Angels; Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota; NEADS; Susquehanna Service Dogs; Teacher's Pet and Working Dogs for Conservation.

"There are so many amazing canine service organizations in need of funding," says Kristen Smith, PDF's Executive Director. "We are proud to do whatever we can to help support them," adds Smith.

Planet Dog is a socially responsible, globally recognized designer and developer of innovative, high quality, award-winning dog products. A percentage of every Planet Dog purchase goes directly to PDF to support the grantmaking program. Since January, 2006, the Planet Dog Foundation has donated more than a half a million dollars in cash grants and product donations to non- profit organizations across the country.

"As a small company doing big things, we are proud to support like-minded organizations that will most benefit from our support," says Alex Fisher, Planet Dog's Founder. "From the beginning, we knew we wanted to build a socially responsible company that not only enhanced the lives of dogs and their people, but one that also improved the world around us by giving back," adds Fisher.

To learn more about the Planet Dog Foundation, and all grantees including Guiding Eyes for the Blind, visit www.planetdogfoundation.org. To learn more about Planet Dog, PDF's corporate partner, visit http://www.planetdog.com/.