The bond between humans and dogs is different from those that exist between any of God's other creatures. Puppies with a Purpose harnesses that relationship and even puts it to the test.

In association with Lancaster County 4-H, Puppies with a Purpose is a dog fostering program designed to prepare young canines for a life of serving people with visual impairments. Bred for service by The Seeing Eye of Morristown, N.J., the puppies live in the homes of Puppies with a Purpose members for about a year before receiving five months of professional training to become certified guide dogs.

"Humans and dogs form that bond," said Paula Cook, the leader of the Lancaster chapter of Puppies with a Purpose. "If that bond is there, it's a mutual thing. That's kind of how dogs are wired. With a personality of a dog, it's a two-way street. That's why people bond with their pets. That's why visually impaired people bond with their guide dogs."

During monthly meetings at the Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, members of Puppies with a Purpose and their foster dogs receive formal training centered around 10 basic commands. There are also two outings each month where members and their dogs can put some of the things they learned into practice.

"We're trying to expose the dogs to the different sights and sounds and smells that they would encounter as guide dogs," said Cook. "We're trying to teach them how to be polite puppies and get them used to everyday things."

Members of Puppies with a Purpose typically welcome their foster dogs into their homes at the age of seven weeks. The future guide dogs are usually either Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, German shepherds or Labrador and golden retriever mixes.

"It's not like having a pet," said Cook. "It's training and teaching. You're making a commitment to do a lot with the dogs. By teaching commands, we're trying to get back to basics with the dogs. It's everyday stuff that should help later on as they grow and mature."

There are more than 40 clubs like Lancaster Puppies with a Purpose serving The Seeing Eye in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, New York and Maryland. Founded in 1929 in Nashville, Tenn., The Seeing Eye moved to its current headquarters in Morristown in 1965, and currently about 1,550 people in the United States and Canada use guide dogs from The Seeing Eye.

"Believe it or not, not all dogs want to be pets," said Cook. "They want to work. They want to please people. The Seeing Eye breeds dogs with personalities that are driven to work. The dogs enjoy it."

Cook first became involved with Lancaster Puppies with a Purpose as a way to share an experience with her 8-year-old daughter. That was 15 years ago. Cook's daughter is now an adult, and the dog Cook is fostering is her 13th.

"You know when you get (the dog) that you're going to give it back," said Cook. "And you know (the dog) is going to be helping someone. You know the dog is going to allow someone who's visually impaired this freedom. It's very gratifying."

For additional information about The Seeing Eye, go to http://www.seeingeye.org.