Atlantic Shores Establishes a "Puppy Love Program"

VHCA (12/2/2011)

In October, Atlantic Shores, a 100-acre retirement community in Virginia Beach, launched a program to link generations together in a partnership that will ultimately provide guide dogs matched to deserving visually impaired individuals.  Atlantic Shores has embraced their newest, smallest residents -- two black Labrador puppies named Joanie and Godrick and made them the centerpiece of a program bringing residents, school children and puppies together.  The two puppies have become an integral part of the Atlantic Shores retirement community and are being raised by residents and embraced by the entire campus!

Residents and staff have teamed up with Guiding Eyes for the Blind, an internationally-accredited guide dog school, to create the “Puppy Love Program” -- one of the first programs of its kind in the nation linking generations together.  As part of the dog’s socialization training, Atlantic Shore’s training program is being implemented in collaboration with Ocean Lakes and Corporate Landing elementary schools in Virginia Beach with the use of special curriculum and puppy field trips to the school. 

More information on this example of a quality program that is enhancing the lives of residents, socializing puppies and eventually bringing sight to those who need a guide dog can be found on their blog posts.