Graduate Team: Morgayne and Omega (Nala)
About the Team: Omega, a female yellow Lab; Morgayne’s 4th guide dog, 2nd from Guiding Eyes
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Training: Home Training June/July 2026
Morgayne is a licensed attorney who currently works for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services as an ADA coordinator. She helps with workplace accommodations for individuals with disabilities in various state agencies that are under the umbrella of Health and Human Services. She has a background and passion for helping people who encounter issues surrounding disability, and she previously worked in fair housing. Morgayne was born with a condition known as Leber’s (LCA), so she is totally blind other than some light perception. She has a sun tattoo that represents the light she is still able to see. She also has a pawprint tattoo for each of her dogs, arranged like steppingstones as a permanent symbol of the lasting impact they have had on her life. Morgayne officially received her most recent guide dog, Omega, whom she lovingly nicknamed “Nala”, on her birthday. She says this was the best birthday present ever! Morgayne loves running with Achilles, a global adaptive running organization that helps people with disabilities participate in running and walking alongside volunteers. While Morgayne is out on a run, Nala enjoys playgroup with the other service dogs.
How would you describe your guide dog? “Nala is part cat and part dog. She’s very independent and very curious, and super loving when she feels connected to someone. She’s patient, inquisitive, and serene, and she also enjoys adventures. Her demeanor is overall very calm, especially around people. I’ve loved teaching my baby nieces and nephew about her and having them light up at the work she does with so much respect, love and joy. Nala is so gentle and good with kids. When she is around other dogs, she becomes a party girl! She loves other dogs and gets so hyped up at the dog park. In her excited stupor, she even tries to swim in the water bowl. She also goes by ‘Nala Bala’ and even ‘The Bala’ sometimes.”
Why did you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “I love the positive, reward-based training philosophy that Guiding Eyes has. I think it’s really healthy and effective to use treats and praise. I also enjoy the school’s effort to teach the dogs commands beyond their basics, especially those that will be useful in a crowded city environment like where I live, such as to the stairs and targeting for light poles at intersections. I’m glad Guiding Eyes focuses on those commands, so I as handler, don’t have to do that all by myself after training.”
How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “I love dogs, and having a guide dog makes me feel more independent and confident in navigating the world. With Nala, I can walk at the same pace as other people and not worry about what route I’m taking. When using a cane, I walk twice as slow and tend to avoid certain busy intersections that Nala now helps me cross safely. She makes my pace of travel much faster and my routes more convenient. I am happy to have a dog that gives me a sense of security, safety, and comfort, especially living in a city.”
Were there any training highlights? “Having the trainer’s support in overcoming my own fears around forming a bond with a new dog was so great. I found it very rewarding at the end of the training experience to be able to feel those strong bonds that were forming between me and Nala.”
DOB: 4/4/2024
Litter ID: 1O24
Color/Breed: Yellow/Labrador Retriever
Gender: Female
Brood: Gwenny
Stud: Gusto
Littermates: Oshie, Omar, Oasis, Opie, Owen, Oswald
Region: Cleveland East
Regional Puppy Instructor: Macy Nauman
Puppy Raiser: The Paul Chase Family
Facebook: Ohio Puppy Raisers
Meet Omega — a fun-loving, goofy pup. She loves playing in water and mud, traveling to Chicago, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, and cheering on hockey at Rocket Arena. She’s also been known to snore loudly on her back. But above all, Omega is a loving, snuggly companion — and we couldn’t be prouder to see her put that big heart to work as an official guide dog. ~ Paul & Jennifer Chase
