Halifax's Yuko Imai participated in the program, raising Rhonda, who will now be partnered with Marie Claire Bilyk in London, Ontario

Friday is graduation day for a brand new batch of CNIB guide dogs.

Twenty-five pups are a part of the 2019 class, including six that were raised right here in the Halifax area.

Halifax's Yuko Imai participated in the program, raising Rhonda, who will now be partnered with Marie Claire Bilyk in London, Ontario.

"I liked the idea that the dog I would be raising is not just a pet, she or he would be going on to do good work," she said.

Puppy raisers foster the animals from around 8 weeks old until they're between 12-16 months old.

"The puppies, first of all, have to know how to behave in a certain way before they can actually go on to do harness work, which is the professional part of the training to learn how to wear a harness and actually guide a person," Imai explained.

"Before that, they have to know how to walk properly, sit properly and all those things that probably a lot of well-trained dogs that are pets would be able to do."

Raisers also need to take the puppies to different environments, exposing them to a variety of situations, so they are prepared for their future career as a guide dog.

It's preferred that puppy raisers live in a home with a yard and have access to a vehicle to take the dog to various appointments.

They also have to be prepared to give the puppy back after about a year, which Imai said was the hardest part.

"After they've become such good dogs because you've trained them properly," she said. "But as far as volunteering your time goes, for me anyway, it was very, very satisfying. I knew it would be satisfying and that's why I signed up."

Bedford's Patti Sullivan and Denise Kroll, Dartmouth's Alicia Newton and Catherine Kieran, and Halifax's Christina Bowie also raised dogs that will be graduating Friday.

All six raised in Halifax will be matched with blind or partially sighted Canadians.

Five are becoming CNIB guide dogs, helping their person avoid obstacles, stop at curbs and steps, or negotiate traffic.

One will be a CNIB buddy dog, which is usually partnered with a child to make it easier for them to transition into a guide dog partnership later on.

"Thanks to our volunteer puppy raisers in the Halifax area, these dogs have reached a major milestone and are making a tremendous difference in the lives of Canadians with sight loss," said Shelley Adams, manager of community engagement for the CNIB Foundation Nova Scotia in a news release.

"These exceptional dogs would not be where they are today without the passion and dedication of our volunteer puppy raisers - it's a 24-hour-a-day, 365-days-a-year commitment."

The graduation ceremonies will take place Friday afternoon in St. John's, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver, and will be broadcast through Facebook Live.

More information on puppy raising requirements can be found online.