Students at Northwestern Elementary recently enjoyed a visit from Tony Swartz and his Seeing Eye Dog, Starlet, as part of Safety Day at the school.

Laura George, a second grade teacher is part of the Seeing Eye program, who “adopts” a helper dog and raises it for a year and a half, after which it will be returned to The Seeing Eye Inc., Morristown, N.J.

Last year, she began bringing Whoopi, a helper dog to school.

She and Principal Maria Pulli felt that it was a great way to train the dog to help in a classroom.

George said the visit from Swartz and Starlet was an excellent way for the students to learn what Whoopi was training for and what would happen next.

Swartz explained to the students and teachers that the pups that are trained as helper dogs, leave their mothers at eight weeks to move in with their sponsor who will socialize them.

Those sponsors then introduce their “student” to the outside world by visiting diners, movie theaters, going hiking, etc.

At 12 to 15 months, the dog is returned to The Seeing Eye, where they are trained how to work to help their new owner.

The dogs are taught that “pull” means to begin walking forward.

The guide dogs will meet their new owner and spend one month where they begin working and learning at The Seeing Eye facility.

Once the pair arrive home, the dog spends time learning its new surroundings using sight and smell, while on their leash and are introduced to their new family members, in this case Swartz’ wife and child.

Each handler/owner must be sensitive to their dogs movement.

For instance when Swartz was walking in Allentown with Starlet one day, he stopped at an exit to a parking garage and listened to determine whether it was safe to cross.

He heard nothing and thought it was safe to cross but Starlet stopped him by pulling him back to safety.

What he couldn’t see but she could was a hybrid car pulling out of the garage.

Canine and owner must continue to train regularly to maintain the dog’s working skills.

Starlet’s favorite game, he said, is catch.

The dogs understand if they are wearing their harness they are working. A leash means playtime.

He stressed the Golden Rule for working dogs, telling the students if they see a blind person working with a guide dog, do not approach them or try to interact with the dog.

George emailed The Press about her dog.

“Whoopi returned to The Seeing Eye on Oct. 25,” George said. “We are going to miss her terribly, but are hopeful that she will be an excellent guide dog for someone after her official training.

“I’m so incredibly thankful to Mrs. Pulli, the school district, families and students for providing Whoopi the opportunity to practice the skills that will help her to be a successful guide dog while she attended our elementary school.”