EUGENE, Ore. (KMTR) -- Real world training on Saturday for animals helping those with vision impairments.
Around half-a-dozen pups from various Guide Dogs for the Blind training groups hit the Eugene Airport for practice on Saturday, May 12th, 2012.
This is the first time volunteer trainers from Lane, Benton, Linn Douglas Counties have put the exercise together.
They're trying to get the dogs used to airport security procedures.
With about 15 months of training, the dogs will go out to new owners who have eye-sight impairments.
“They'll have harnesses and stuff on which are going to set off the security system so its probably good for them to get a good pat down and for them to know that this isn't such a big deal,” says Sue Burgess, leader of the Eugene Guide Dogs for the Blind training group.
“It's also a good chance for the TSA to get a chance to train their people with their procedures with dogs,” says Burgess.
The Eugene and other area branches of the Guide Dogs for the Blind training groups are looking for volunteers too.
If you want to help, call 503-668-2100 or visit their website at the following link: http://www.guidedogs.com/site/PageServer.