NBC sponsors puppy who will undergo guide dog training

Guf, a yellow lab, is adopted by "Growing Up Fisher" cast and crew; he will be trained to assist people who are visually impaired

In an effort to help offset expensive training costs, NBC has sponsored a puppy that will be trained to become a guide dog and be paired with an individual who is visually impaired.

The cast and crew of NBC's new comedy "Growing Up Fisher" have adopted Guf, an 8-week old yellow Labrador. Guf will be cared for by a "puppy raiser" until he is 18 months old, and then formally trained to become a fully-fledged guide dog for a visually impaired individual.

While there is never a charge to a visually impaired person to receive a guide dog from the New York-based Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, the entire cost of guide dog training is approximately $55,000.

"Growing Up Fisher," starring J.K. Simmons and Jenna Elfman, is the brainchild of executive producer DJ Nash, as the story is inspired by his family. Nash's father is visually impaired and each episode is told through the voice of the young boy (Eli Baker), narrated by executive producer Jason Bateman.

"Getting a guide dog didn't just change dad's life, it changed our family's life," Nash said. "Not every family will get a TV show out of it. But what they will get is so much better."

For information on the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, or to make a donation, visit www.guidedog.org.