Jimbo was sponsored from Birth to Career by the Laulhere family. “They share: “We, along with Cherese, wish you the most joyous day, and many congratulations on your graduation. Cherese Mari Laulhere, who unfortunately is no longer with us, is both humbled and honored to have sponsored this part of your journey. She shares with you the qualities of kindness, compassion, dedication, and resiliency. Her all-around compassion for humanity and great love of animals make her a great match for those like you in the Guiding Eyes programs. Congratulations again, and the warmest of wishes, Cherese Mari Laulhere, Todd, and Teresa Laulhere”
Graduate Team: Austin and Jimbo
About the Team: Jimbo, a male yellow Lab, is Austin’s 2nd Guiding Eyes dog
Hometown: La Mesa, California
Training: February 2026 On-Campus
Austin was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and raised in the San Diego area. Diagnosed with Retinopathy of Prematurity at birth, he has only limited light perception. He was a volunteer for the Braille Institute, teaching Braille to older adults, prior to his employment as a technology sales specialist at an Apple retail store. He continued in that role for four and a half years. Music – specifically bagpiping – is a passion of Austin’s. He is an accomplished bagpiper who has traveled extensively with his first guide dog, Newton, performing throughout the United States and Canada. This past year, Austin spent a month in Scotland, entering bagpipe competitions and playing at numerous events. He frequently travels to Houston, Texas, to perform with a traveling bagpipe band that competes across the country. Newton, who guided him for eight years, is now retired but lives with Austin and his new guide and traveling partner, Jimbo.
How would you describe your guide dog? “Jimbo is a wonderful animal and guide dog. He has a quiet disposition, which differs from my first guide dog. He gets along great with Newton, but unlike Newton, he loves the water in my pool. Jimbo can still be very much a puppy, but is eager to learn new things and is always prepared to work. I am still learning his idiosyncrasies, and he is learning mine.”
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “I learned about Guiding Eyes through an acquaintance. Although there is a popular guide dog school on the West Coast, after looking into Guiding Eyes, I loved their breeding program, and felt their Guiding Eyes dogs are healthier and better trained. Guiding Eyes also enables recipients to stay in close touch with their trainers and instructors.”
How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “I wanted a guide dog since I was a young child, around eight years old. I wanted companionship. At that time, I had an opportunity to meet and experience a guide dog. The experience for me was very freeing. It was always in the back of my mind that having a guide dog would enable me to gain more freedom. Receiving a guide dog completely changed my life. Working with a living creature, spending 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with him, I quickly learned his likes and dislikes, just as he learned mine. It has truly been a game changer.”
Were there any training highlights: “Being back at the school and seeing familiar faces was very comforting. Our group was comprised of three students, and we made a special request to go into New York City to navigate the busy city streets and subway system. The opportunity provided us with great exposure to just about any situation that we could encounter when we are on our own. Personally, I got along swimmingly with my trainer, Dan. He encouraged me to ask questions and was a great narrator of things that were happening around us during training.”
DOB: 2/25/2024
Litter ID: 12J24
Color/Breed: Yellow/Labrador Retriever
Gender: Male
Brood: Juniper
Stud: Soldier
Littermates: Jolly, Justice, Jackson, Jubilee, Juliet, Jessica, Junior, Judd, Joker, Juan, Jetson, Junie
Region: Southwestern VT
Regional Puppy Instructor: Kate Gardner
Puppy Raiser: Lynn Edwards, Beth & Dennis Smith
Facebook: Southern Vermont Puppy Raisers
Jimbo was an old soul even as a small puppy. He is a listener as shown by his head tilt! Because he was so calm and unflappable, we loved to see him cut loose with his favorite toy…a ball on a rope. He is the most polite lap sitter: placing one foot at a time onto our legs, then quickly plopping down to become a canine weighted blanket. He just wanted to be as close as possible. More human than dog…Austin has a real gem in his new partner. We are sure they will be best of friends for years and years and he will be a lovable ambassador for guides all over the world. We are so very happy he has been matched with someone who will truly appreciate his steadfast and loving nature. ~ Beth and Dennis Smith
