Southeastern Guide Dogs’ Beyond the Dark educates public about service dogs

The Beyond the Dark program from Southeastern Guide Dogs is designed to educate the public about the role that service dogs play in making their human partner’s life easier.

Through a variety of interactive sensory experiences, guests will be able to experience something like what to benefit from the use of a guide dog or a service dog.

Southeastern Guide Dogs graduates will also share their stories during the event, while instructors will demonstrate some of the advanced skills SE Guide Dogs learn to perform.

“Beyond the Dark helps people see what it’s like for a veteran like me to find help through my service dog, Pella,” Sean Brown, a Southeastern Guide Dogs graduate and US Army veteran, said in a press release. “I have accomplished so much because of her. She’s the inspiration that keeps me going, just like all of our service dogs do for my fellow graduates. The Beyond the Dark experience will give people insight into this and see how truly amazing our dogs are.”

The Southeastern Guide Dogs Beyond the Dark program will show the public what it’s like to have a service dog or guide dog.

Tickets for the Beyond the Dark program are available on the SE Guide Dogs website for $20, with sales going toward critical mission projects for the organization.  happening

The first Beyond the Dark presentation will be held Tuesday, July 13 at 10 a.m. ET, with additional events happening on a weekly basis. Doors of the campus in Palmetto, Florida, will open at 9:45 a.m., with the program promptly beginning fifteen minutes later.

Masks are not required, but as the pandemic is still ongoing, they are likely a good idea. Also, be prepared to wear a blindfold for a portion of the event.

It is also recommended not for children or preteens due to the heavy emotional content. The sensory content also may be ill-advised for military veterans or others with PTSD, as it includes an audio description of combat.

Southeastern Guide Dogs has trained over 1,200 service dog teams since its founding in 1982, and is dually accredited by the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International. They rely completely on donations from the public, and do not charge their clients for their services.

We hope that many members of the public will be inspired and educated about the role that service dogs play in society, and become involved in volunteering or fundraising for Southeastern or another canine-related organization.