feature story / 17 Eye pups forever,” jokes Keeler. Says Cullen of her experience, “Maplewood is a great town to get ex- posure for your dog. I like to walk my puppy around town and sit at the train station. I can also sit at the Able Baker and get exposure to other dogs. It’s re- ally charming around here, and a per- fect setting for Seeing Eye puppies.” The Essex County Puppy Club is an important part of The Seeing Eye. The oldest guide dog organization in the United States, The Seeing Eye is headquartered in Morristown and oversees the raising of more than 500 puppies each year. People come to Seeing Eye from all over the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico to be matched with their perfect guide dog. A family raises the puppy until it’s about 14 months old and then brings it to The Seeing Eye, where it spends the next four months with an instruc- tor, learning the specifics of guiding visually-impaired people. But prepare yourself for this day, because once the puppies are brought to the instruc- tor, you can watch them, but the pups won’t be able to see you. “It’s too con- fusing for the puppies,” says Keeler. “It’s heart-wrenching to bring them back, but you know they are off to a good life,” says Cullen. She jokes that when the puppies are brought back to Seeing Eye, “it’s like sending your kids to college. Except the puppy doesn’t call you to ask for money.” Above: A seeing eye puppy's first visit with Santa in New York City. Experience old-fashioned Italian dishes with an authentic Mediterranean flair. MONDAY: 5 - 9:30 PM TUESDAY – FRIDAY: 12 – 9:30 PM SATURDAY: 4 - 9:30 PM SUNDAY: 4 - 9:00 PM Owner & Chef Silvio Caruso All food prepared using the freshest ingredients, featuring fish, homemade pasta, sauces, bread and dessert. Private Party Rooms Available Take Out 59 South Orange Avenue | South Orange | 973-378-9222 | BocconeSouth.com Seeing Eye pups feel the LOVE on their big trip to Manhattan. MICKEY FRIED PRESCHOOL & OHEB SHALOM PRESENT one stop shop fall shopping event Sip wine and shop for all your holiday gifts at our shop night, benefitting Mickey Fried Preschool. Oheb Shalom Congregation 170 Scotland Road, South Orange For info: RachelKahn@OhebShalom.org thursday, november 29 7:00 - 9:00 pm free and open to the public