Guide Dogs of America opens Sylmar campus for free Open House

Why it matters: - Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines uses the Open House to spotlight the volunteers, donors, first responders, veterans, staff and community partners behind its service-dog programs. - The event gives Southern California residents a chance to see how guide, service, autism, facility and therapy dogs help increase independence and support people across the region and beyond. - The organization says its programs provide life-changing dogs and support services at no cost to recipients in the United States and Canada.

What happened: - Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines will host its annual free Open House on Saturday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. - The event will take place on the organization’s 7.5-acre campus at 13445 Glenoaks Boulevard in Sylmar, California. - The 2026 theme is “Year of Heroes.” - The Open House is open to families, media and the broader community.

The details: - Visitors can meet graduates and their guide dogs, veteran service dogs, autism service dogs, facility dogs and newly launched therapy dog teams. - Live demonstrations will show how the dogs are trained to support independence and daily life. - The event will also highlight volunteer puppy raisers who help prepare future guide and service dogs. - Puppy raising groups from San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita Valley, Simi Valley, Ventura, Pasadena, Glendora, West Los Angeles, Torrance, Inland Empire, Long Beach, Orange County, Huntington Beach, San Diego and Temecula will be represented. - Guests can attend guide dog and service dog demonstrations, meet puppies and dogs in training, interact with graduates and working teams, and take part in kids activities and family entertainment. - Community partner exhibits will be part of the event. - A silent auction will feature pet-themed gift baskets, vacation packages, sports experiences and more. - Lunch will be available from the In-N-Out Burger Truck and Los Ruizeñores Mexican Cuisine. - Logix Federal Credit Union is sponsoring the event. - DC and Ultimate Pet Nutrition are supporting the Open House. - Interview opportunities will be available with graduates, puppy raisers, veterans, volunteers, therapy dog teams, organizational leadership and the dogs. - The organization says guide, service, facility and therapy dogs are welcome at the event, but personal pets and career change dogs are not. - Media inquiries and requests for behind-the-scenes interviews or tours can go to Belen Amaya-Morales at bamorales@guidedogsofamerica.org or 818-833-6434.

Between the lines: - The Open House is as much a recruitment and community-building event as a showcase for the dogs themselves. - The wide mix of puppy-raising groups and program types suggests the organization is using the event to show the scale of its pipeline, from training to graduation. - The “Year of Heroes” framing places the emphasis on human partners as well as the dogs, reinforcing the idea that the mission depends on a broad support network.

What’s next: - Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines will continue its public-facing celebrations and fundraising through the Open House and related community engagement. - Attendees and prospective supporters can learn more about the organization’s programs on site during the June 6 event.

The bottom line: - The Sylmar Open House is a free, one-day look at how Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines trains working dogs and mobilizes volunteers to support people who need them most.