SMITHTOWN, NY, Sept. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs today announced a major milestone in their organizations’ history as community leaders, donors, volunteers, program graduates, staff, and friends gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony for the organizations’ new Puppy Development & Visitor Center at their national headquarters campus in Smithtown, New York. The project is receiving significant support from the Town, County, and New York State, including a $1 million grant from Empire State Development.
Preliminary site work is underway on the new 30,000-square-foot facility, the cornerstone of the organizations’ Building for the Future initiative. The center will strengthen the earliest and most critical stages of every future guide, service and facility dog’s journey while expanding the organizations’ ability to serve more people with disabilities and welcoming the public more deeply into their missions.
“This groundbreaking represents much more than the start of construction on a new building. It represents the next chapter of our mission,” said John Miller, president and CEO of Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs. “Every life-changing partnership we create between a person and an assistance dog begins with a puppy. By investing in those critical earliest stages of development while creating a place where people can experience and participate in our mission firsthand, we are building the foundation to serve more people, engage more volunteers and supporters, and strengthen our impact for generations to come.”
Empire State Development President, CEO, and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "For 80 years, the Guide Dog Foundation and America's VetDogs have been changing lives from their home on Long Island, giving people with disabilities — including veterans and first responders — greater independence, mobility and opportunity. This new center is an investment not only in the organizations' future, but in the people, families and communities they serve in all 50 states. New York State's support will help these nationally respected organizations grow their impact while keeping jobs, talent and an extraordinary mission rooted right here on Long Island."
The new facility will include enhanced puppy development and veterinary spaces, advanced biosecurity features, educational visitor experiences, and a gathering space capable of welcoming more than 300 guests for graduations, mission-focused events, community programs, and indoor training. Over time, the center is expected to help increase the organizations’ capacity by 25 percent, allowing more individuals with disabilities, including America’s veterans, active-duty military, and first responders, to receive accredited, custom-trained guide and service dogs completely free of charge. The project represents a significant investment to remain on Long Island while supporting a mission with national reach.
Long Island Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs Linda Armyn and Dr. Kimberly R. Cline said, “The Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs are deeply rooted in Long Island, yet their work changes lives across the country. This expansion will create jobs, strengthen their Smithtown campus and increase their capacity to provide life-changing assistance dogs. By choosing to invest and grow here on Long Island, the organizations are also creating new opportunities for education and community engagement while advancing a mission with national reach.”
New York State Department of Veterans’ Services Commissioner Dr. Viviana M. DeCohen said, “The Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs know that every guide and service dog they place brings new possibilities into someone’s life and renewed hope to those that love them. Through expert training and deeply personal care, they help Veterans and others with disabilities navigate daily life with greater confidence and pursue the activities and connections that matter to them. Providing these remarkable dogs at no cost reflects an extraordinary commitment to the people they serve. This new center will help their dedicated staff, volunteers, and supporters extend that promise to more individuals and families. We are grateful to the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs for their care, compassion, excellent work, and partnership in Serving All Who Served and thank Governor Hochul and Empire State Development for supporting this important expansion.”
The Town of Smithtown, led by Supervisor Edward R. Wehrheim, has played an important role in helping the organizations advance the project and remain in the community they have called home for some 80 years.
“This groundbreaking is an exciting milestone not only for the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs, but for the entire Smithtown community,” said Town of Smithtown Supervisor Edward R. Wehrheim, a Vietnam veteran who served in the U.S. Navy. “For generations, these organizations have carried out extraordinary work from their home here in Smithtown. This new facility will allow that work to grow, bring more visitors and volunteers into our community, and ensure Smithtown remains home to a mission that changes lives throughout the nation.”
The facility is being designed by Studio Miers | Chou | Poon Architecture, in collaboration with internationally renowned blind architect and accessibility expert Chris Downey of Architecture for the Blind and Long Island-based bld Architecture, dpc. Construction is being led by TRITEC Real Estate Company.
“Suffolk County is proud to be home to organizations whose impact reaches far beyond Long Island,” said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine. “The Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs provide independence, confidence and opportunity to people with disabilities, including the veterans and first responders who have given so much in service to others. This new center is an investment in that mission, in our region, and in the thousands of lives that will be touched by the remarkable dogs whose journeys begin here.”
“The Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs have earned a national reputation for changing lives, and this new facility will allow their extraordinary mission to reach even more people beyond Long Island. Helping Veterans and individuals with disabilities live with greater freedom and independence strengthens families, communities, and our nation. I am proud that this life-changing work is happening right here on Long Island, and I look forward to continuing to support their important mission in Congress,” said Rep. Nick LaLota, a U.S. Navy Veteran.
The ceremonial groundbreaking kicked off with a special parachute jump from The All-Veteran Group, a professional parachute team and veteran advocacy organization. Sponsored by America’s VetDogs’ Puppy With a Purpose® partner, Window World, the jump team is led by Mike Elliott, a retired U.S. Army Golden Knights skydiver who famously tandem skydived with former U.S. President George H.W. Bush. The event also featured a special guest appearance by Sully H.W. Bush, the America’s VetDogs service dog who served President Bush and continues his career supporting veterans and staff at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as a facility dog.
Photos and B-Roll located here.
To learn more about Building for the Future, follow construction progress or support the campaign, visit GuideDog.org/Build or VetDogs.org/Build.
About the Guide Dog Foundation & America’s VetDogs
For 80 years, the Guide Dog Foundation (est. 1946) and America’s VetDogs (est. 2003) have transformed lives by providing accredited, custom-trained guide, service and facility dogs to individuals who are blind, have low vision or have other disabilities, including veterans, active-duty military, and first responders with physical and emotional disabilities.
It costs more than $50,000 to breed, raise, train and place one assistance dog, but the organizations provide their services completely free of charge, empowering those they serve to Live Without Boundaries®.
Together, these independent sister 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations have placed more than 3,300 guide, service and facility dogs; support active teams in all 50 states; Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico; Canada and beyond; and engage more than 1,400 volunteers annually. Accredited by Assistance Dogs International and the International Guide Dog Federation, the organizations earn top ratings from leading charitable watchdog organizations, including Candid, Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance.
Learn more and discover how to apply, volunteer or donate at GuideDog.org or VetDogs.org.
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Attachments
- Sully H.W. Bush at Guide Dog Foundation & America's VetDogs Groundbreaking Event
- Guide Dog Foundation & America's VetDogs hosts groundbreaking on new puppy development & visitor center
Allison Storck Guide Dog Foundation 6313342615 allison@guidedog.org