Andrea and Ambie

Meet Graduate Andrea

Graduate Team:  Andrea and Ambie
About the Team:  Ambie – female yellow Lab; Andrea’s 3^rd Guiding Eyes dog
Location:  Wauconda, Illinois
Training: April 2025 On-Campus

Andrea became a member of the Guiding Eyes family in 2008 when she received her first guide dog, Lopez.  After her partnership with Lopez, came her beloved Gretzky, and now she has returned to Guiding Eyes for her yellow Lab, Ambie.  In her local community, Andrea is an active member of the Lions Club, the Wauconda Woman’s Club, and a blindness support group that she and a few friends started in 2023. Her charitable nature extends to Guiding Eyes, where she has served as president, vice president, and recording secretary of the Guiding Eyes Graduate Council. Andrea is married and has 3 adult children and 3 grandchildren. When she isn’t busy with her family or volunteer work, Andrea enjoys dancing, music, and musical theater. She attends concerts and shows with her sister and husband. She also attends the sporting events of her nieces and nephews, cheering them on!

How would you describe your guide dog? “Ambie just celebrated her 3^rd birthday. She is laid back and relaxed, although when it is time to work, she is very willing and ready to go at any time of day!  Ambie is great at shorelining, [travel without sidewalks], when I begin my walk into town from my home. The first 3/4 miles is a stretch of winding and curving road before I reach the first sidewalk.  She handles it like a pro, making our 2-mile Dunkin run a breeze!”

What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “Many years ago, I began to suffer vision loss. I started working with an Orientation and Mobility instructor and learning to use a cane. I found the sidewalks in my local downtown area especially challenging with a cane. My instructor suggested that I might find a guide dog better suited to my needs.  I immediately got to work researching guide dog schools.  Guiding Eyes impressed me from the beginning.  They provided the best information and responses from my initial inquiry and beyond, always with empathy and compassion.  My decision to apply to Guiding Eyes was a life-changing one, thanks to the staff, volunteers, and, of course, my guides, Lopez, Gretzky, and now Ambie!”

How has having a guide dog impacted your life?  “Each of my dogs has given me the confidence and self-esteem I need to maintain my active lifestyle and independence. I always wanted to be a teacher, and I have embraced the opportunity to use my guide dogs to educate the public about what it is like to live and work with a guide dog.   More importantly, I am able to demonstrate that people with disabilities can be productive members of society.”

Were there any training highlights? “Each time I return to the Guiding Eyes campus, it is a special experience. This time, two things really stood out to me during training. The first was my instructor, Dan. He was an excellent instructor and used humor to keep my training lighthearted. He knew how difficult it can be to retire a guide dog and transition to a new one.  Dan tailored my training to mimic the busy route I use when walking into town at home in Illinois. He worked hard to find just the right route to make the training as realistic and meaningful as possible. The second highlight demonstrated Ambie’s focus and intelligence. Twice during the first week of training, we went to the Guiding Eyes Urban Training Center in White Plains, NY.  During our initial visit, I was in the lounge and sought a firmer chair. The staff brought me a chair, and when we returned to the Training Center after each route, Ambie went right to that chair – she knew it was ours!”

Meet Guide Dog Ambie

DOB:  5/1/2022
Litter ID: 2AA22
Color/Breed:  Yellow/Labrador
Gender: Female
Brood: Vanna
Stud: Elton
Littermates: Angus, Ada, Aladdin, Avril, Arthur, Albert
Region:  Baltimore
Regional Puppy Instructor: Jeanyne Gembarski
Puppy Raiser:  Tom & Terri Vito
Facebook: Baltimore Puppy Raisers

Special Recognition: Ambie was special named by the Marshall Family in honor of their daughter Amber, whose nickname is Ambie. The family wishes blessings on the new team and will be praying for you on your journey together.  

From the Puppy Raiser…

Ambie is a very bright and energetic pup. She is curious and would sniff everything around her. She would take her kong, which was full of kibble, into her kennel. She would drop it to cause the kibble to fall out. Then we observed her taking each of her toys, one-by-one and dropping them to see if any food would come out!! She loves kids and is always very gentle with them. My grandchildren loved playing with her and treated her like she was another child. When Ambie came back for a visit last Christmas, we were impressed with the progress she made which we credit to the training team. She is a great dog, we wish her well on her new career, and we will miss her. ~ Tom and Terri Vito

Photos of the Team…