Anthony and Clancey

Meet Graduate Anthony

Graduate Team: Anthony and Clancey
About the Team: Clancey, a male yellow Lab; Anthony’s 2^nd Guiding Eyes dog
Location: Greensboro, North Carolina
Training: April 2025 Home Training

Anthony is employed by Amazon, working in a Fulfillment Center Warehouse as a packer at a workstation utilizing adaptive technology. He was born in Long Island, NY, and during his childhood, his family moved to Florida. Diagnosed at birth with Retinopathy of Prematurity (RoP), Anthony has no peripheral vision in his right eye and only light perception in his left eye. In his free time, Anthony enjoys hanging out with family and friends, attending shows, and listening to music. His favorite genres of music are rock and metal bands.  He also loves traveling and recently returned from a trip to Universal Studios in Florida, where he and Clancey enjoyed all the attractions. Clancey is Anthony’s second guide dog. His first guide dog from Guiding Eyes, Howie, currently lives with his puppy raiser.

How would you describe your guide dog? “Clancey loves to be around me. When not working, he loves people and playing with other dogs at every available opportunity. He loves playing with his toys, but not the game of fetch. Verbal commands work best. He is big on words and very alert.”

What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes?  “My family is originally from Long Island. They were familiar with the area and heard that the school at Guiding Eyes was very good. The application process was conducted over the phone, and it was easy and very professional.”  

How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “I walk a lot faster and get outside and around easier. People talk to me more, and I now have frequent conversations with the public.”

Were there any training highlights? “I had Home Training with Remote Guide Dog Mobility Instructor David Hagemann. He was easy to talk to and work with. I also had him as a trainer for my first guide dog. He is a great trainer. During my home training, I sailed with Clancey past construction work on the sidewalk, and Clancey handled it without a hitch. I only learned about the sidewalk construction afterwards, from David. We also went to a Starbucks, where I had a coffee and Clancey had a Puppuccino for dogs. He loved it. I also learned that Clancey prefers working on elevators versus escalators, but he is doing better since our initial training.”

Meet Guide Dog Clancey

DOB:  12/19/2022
Litter ID: 4C422
Color/Breed:  Yellow/Labrador
Gender: Male
Brood: Eloise
Stud: Hamilton
Littermates: Chance, Candy, Cliff, Canyon, Crosby
Region:  Colorado
Regional Puppy Instructor: Kerry Lemerise
Puppy Raiser:  Joseph Gruber
Facebook: Colorado Puppy Raisers

From the Puppy Raiser…

Raising Clancey was a journey filled with both challenges and triumphs. From mastering basic commands to learning advanced obedience skills, we tackled each step together. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have shaped his character and prepared him for his future as a guide dog. ~Joseph Gruber

Photos of the Team…