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MMeunier

Andrew and Harvey

Meet Graduate Andrew

Andrew and yellow Lab guide dog Harvey sit side by side for their indoor team portraitGraduate Team: Andrew and Harvey
About the Team: Harvey: a male yellow Lab, Andrew’s 3rd guide dog
Location: Bemidji, Minnesota
Training: November 2024 On-Campus

Drew grew up in Arizona until the family relocated to Colorado, where his parents still reside. He settled in Minnesota with his wife, retired guide Shade, and guide dog Harvey. Drew is a federal contractor at Covalent Solutions LLC, working for the NIH Office of Data Science Strategy. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology with a concentration in Mass Communication from Albion College. After completing his undergraduate degree, Drew earned a PhD in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he also served as a post-doctoral researcher. Subsequently, he became the Assistant Director for the nonprofit BIOQUEST and completed a teaching postdoc at North Carolina State University from 2021-2023. Drew gives back through his volunteer work, giving talks and presentations to learning professionals and engaging in advocacy and outreach efforts to support individuals with disabilities in STEM fields to raise awareness among hiring professionals. Drew served on the Guiding Eyes Graduate Council and is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Multidisciplinary Working Group: Disability Inclusion and Anti-Ableism in STEMM. Drew is a violinist, enjoys reading science fiction and fantasy novels, and is a huge fan of college hockey (Badgers) and NHL (Avalanche). He and his wife enjoy birding, tandem biking, spending time outdoors, hiking, and sailing.

How would you describe your guide dog? “He’s a sweet dog, wants to please, and does diligent work. In harness, Harvey’s serious and driven. He wants to do the job and do it right, although he has to figure it out sometimes. He’s quick and tries to work ahead on problems. Out of harness, he likes to play tug and wants me to throw him a ball. My previous guide, Shade, plays differently, and the two are still figuring out how to play together. Harvey’s a cuddly, snuggly boy who also loves to flop on the sofa and snooze, but his nickname during class was Party Bus, because he would often try to instigate play in class.”

What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “I come back because of the atmosphere they set during training and afterward. Some other schools are more institutional, but I like the connection with Guiding Eyes. The follow-up support is fantastic, and when training, the instructor, dog, and I are on the journey together. I like the team-oriented approach of the whole organization. It feels like a family-oriented, collaborative effort that hasn’t gone away in the 20 years I’ve been with Guiding Eyes. They stay current and take a scientific approach to breeding decisions and training, evolving to ensure they do what works best for the best results. The guide training, down to the volunteer program, has evolved as they learned what worked. They’ve learned over time about cognitions and their people, as well as measurable traits and what fits well.”

How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “At first, I wanted a guide for enhanced safety. I’m good at traffic reading, but having a second opinion felt safer and made me more likely to go into an unfamiliar environment. Having a dog makes it easier to find the door versus trailing the entire wall. Also, with distracted driving, hybrids, and EVs – it can be difficult to hear vehicles, or they’re silent. There is more confidence in a new environment, but also travel is so much more fluid with a dog. There’s less planning and anxiety. There is the ease of travel and freedom to travel like everyone else does.”

Were there any training highlights? “It was a really awesome class. I got lucky – we all gelled and were supportive if anyone was struggling. They’re people I want to keep in touch with. We had a lot of shared experiences, even though we did more individualized things. Harvey’s confidence level struck me and reminded me a lot of my first dog’s drive and his ‘bro, I got this’ attitude. I appreciate the blend of instructors and being shown what I need to do differently and what Harvey expects from me. It was helpful to have that running dialogue with the instructors. There were a lot of opportunities to ask questions and collaborate.”

Meet Guide Dog Harvey

DOB:  6/7/2022
Litter ID: 3HH22
Color/Breed:  Yellow/Labrador Retriever
Gender: Male
Brood: Bonnie
Stud: Bosley
Littermates: Henna, Henry, Helix, Herb, Heron
Region:  Columbus
Regional Puppy Instructor: Leslie Stephens
Puppy Raiser:  Jessica Kennedy
Facebook: Columbus Puppy Raisers

From the Puppy Raiser…

Harvey is a magical, happy-go-lucky ‘little’ boy who changed my life in ways he will never know. While I will forever miss his easy smile, goofy head tilt, and willingness to try anything, it brings me tremendous joy to know that he is going to do the same for his graduate. He was never meant to be forever by my side, but he will without a doubt be forever in my heart. Time for you to do BIG things, Harvey Philip! Momma is beyond proud and loves you more than words.🖤 ~Jess Kennedy

Photos of the Team…