If only every airport visitor arrived with the same excitement as the 260 puppies who recently bounded through Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal C—tails wagging, ears perked, and ready to learn.

Those pups, along with 300 volunteers, took part in a one-of-a-kind training session this past weekend designed to prepare them to assist visually impaired travelers navigate the airport with confidence. The annual airport event, held in partnership with non-profit The Seeing Eye, is now in its third decade.

Puppies of all shapes and sizes—golden retrievers, German shepherds, Labrador retrievers, and mixes—walked and sniffed their way through real-world airport settings, including baggage claims, TSA checkpoints, gates, and even aboard a United Airlines aircraft. The puppies also got to meet Port Authority police officers and firefighters, where they were introduced to emergency vehicles, bomb detection drills, and other exciting scenarios. The hands (and paws)-on moments help build their confidence and prepare them for the challenges ahead as guide dogs.

Since 1994, the Port Authority has been teaming up with The Seeing Eye, the nation’s oldest guide dog school, to boost their training efforts. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and United Airlines have also joined the pack. The training has become a vital resource and another example of the Port Authority’s wide-ranging efforts to make sure all passengers can travel smoothly throughout the agency’s airports, no matter their abilities.

“This program has become an essential part of our commitment to accessibility at Newark Liberty,” said Aidan O’Donnell, the Port Authority’s general manager of New Jersey airports. “Over the last three decades, we have worked alongside The Seeing Eye to ensure that travelers with visual impairments have the resources and support they need to navigate airports safely and independently.”

Each puppy starts their journey in volunteer homes across New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and New York, where they’re socialized and taught basic obedience. After a year of training, they return to The Seeing Eye for intensive instruction before being matched with individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

“Our Seeing Eye puppy raising volunteers always look forward to this unique socialization opportunity,” said Lauren Christie, assistant director of canine development at The Seeing Eye. “The exposure our puppies get—from navigating slippery floors and walking down a jetway, to calmly settling under an airplane seat—helps prepare them for the real-world experiences they’ll encounter as guide dogs. These outings also teach our dogs to be polite and unobtrusive travel companions, so they can fly comfortably without disrupting other passengers. It’s all part of shaping confident, well-mannered Seeing Eye dogs for people who are blind.”

Kevin Cumiskey, United Airlines’ regional manager for inflight training, said the event benefits passengers just as much as the puppies.

“We are constantly striving to improve accessibility, and our involvement in this program is one of the many ways we ensure that every traveler feels valued, supported, and empowered,” he said.

Tom Carter, federal security director for New Jersey at the TSA, echoed the sentiment.

“At TSA, we recognize that this training event is vital for enhancing independence for the visually impaired and helping our officers better understand the needs of these travelers,” Carter said. “Exposing the puppies to airport environments not only prepares them for real-world scenarios but also allows officers to refine their skills in assisting both the dogs and their handlers, ensuring a smoother and more respectful travel experience for everyone.”

Newark Liberty, and the Port Authority as a whole, has made inclusive and accessible air travel a top priority. The airport recently unveiled a second sensory room in Terminal A, providing a calming space for those with sensory sensitivities, including individuals with autism. It’s one of many resources available to travelers of all abilities across the agency’s airports.

Katie Letson, who works in the Seeing Eye’s puppy development department, was guiding her foster puppy, Ruck, through the terminal. Letson first discovered the Seeing Eye in 2009 on a college tour and has been involved ever since.