Seeing eye dogs, handlers tour USS Bataan during Fleet Week New York

Photo By Senior Chief Petty Officer Amanda Dunford | 160525-N-QF605-036 NEW YORK (May 26, 2016) - Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Erik Bryant provides information as a tour guide for members from The Seeing Eye Puppy Training Program aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) during a ship tour as part of integration and desensitization training for the dogs in New York for Fleet Week New York (FWNY) 2016. The Seeing Eye breeds more than 500 puppies a year to provide seeing eye dogs for the blind and instructs blind people in the proper use, handling, and care of the dogs. FWNY, now in its 28th year, is the city's time-honored celebration of the sea series. It is an unparalleled opportunity for the citizens of New York and the surrounding ti-state area to meet Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, as well as witness firsthand the latest capabilities of today's maritime series. The weeklong celebration has been held nearly every year since 1984. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Amanda Dunford/Released)  

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES

05.26.2016

Courtesy Story

Navy Region Mid-Atlantic

Story by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Amanda Dunford, Fleet Week New York Public Affairs

NEW YORK – Members from The Seeing Eye program visited the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) during Fleet Week New York (FWNY), May 26.

Based in Morristown, N.J., group toured Bataan with three dogs as part of its integration and familiarization training.

“We get a puppy when it’s about seven or eight weeks old, take it home and teach it basic obedience, housebreaking and desensitize it to a lot of distractions,” said Bud Liptak with The Seeing Eye Puppy Training Program. “Touring the ship and coming to the city gets the puppies used to different types of circumstances, going upstairs, traffic, the ferry, buses and a lot of noise.”

Established in 1929, The Seeing Eye is the oldest existing guide dog school in the world and breeds more than 500 dogs a year.

“About 270 to 280 dogs are matched a year,” said Liptak. “If the dog doesn’t pass the training, it automatically goes back to the breeder, adoption or other working dog groups like homeland security.”

Bataan proved to be an ideal training platform for the puppies as well as time for reminiscing for Liptak. As a prior Navy Sailor stationed aboard an amphibious assault ship in the 60s, Liptak noted some changes, but was still familiar with the ship.

Bataan joins four U.S. Navy ships, four U.S. Naval Academy Yard Patrol boats, two U.S. Coast Guard cutters, and three Royal Canadian Navy ships visiting the city for FWNY.

FWNY, held nearly every year since 1984, it is the city’s celebration of the sea services. The weeklong event provides an opportunity for the citizens of New York City and the surrounding tri-state area to meet Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, and showcase sea service personnel, technology, and capabilities.

For up-to-date information on all FWNY events, visit the official FWNY website at www.fleetweeknewyork.com, “Like” FleetWeekNewYork on Facebook, or “Follow” @FleetWeekNYC on Twitter. FWNY photos can be viewed on Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/fwnypao and Instagram at www.instagram.com/fleetweeknyc. Join the conversation on social media by using #FleetWeekNYC.

• Date Taken: 05.26.2016
• Date Posted: 05.26.2016 16:28
• Story ID: 199215
• Location: NEW YORK, NY, US