Meet Graduate Zandra Graduate Team: Zandra and SedonaAbout the Team: Sedona, a female, black & tan German Shepherd; Zandra’s 2nd Guiding Eyes dog.Location: Olympia, WashingtonTraining: March 2026 Home Training Zandra grew up in Oregon and moved north to Washington to complete her education in the 1970s. During this time, she met her husband, James. Their… Continue reading Zandra and Sedona
Meet Graduate Nicole Graduate Team: Nicole and EverleyAbout the Team: Everley, a male black Lab, Nicole’s 2nd Guiding Eyes dogLocation: Santa Rosa, CaliforniaTraining: March 2026 On-Campus Nicole has been employed as an Assistive Technology Instructor at the San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind for the past two years. Born with Peters Anomaly, a rare congenital… Continue reading Nicole and Everley
Meet Graduate Kaitlynn Graduate Team: Kaitlynn and RaquelAbout the Team: Raquel, a female yellow Lab; Kaitlynn’s 1st guide dogLocation: Plummer, IdahoTraining: March 2026 On-Campus Kaitlynn has come to Guiding Eyes for her first guide dog, Raquel. Originally from Colorado, she now lives in Idaho, where she is an avid hiker who takes full advantage of… Continue reading Kaitlynn and Raquel
Meet Graduate Pamela Graduate Team: Pamela and ElvyAbout the Team: Elvy, a female black & tan German Shepherd; Pam’s 5th Guiding Eyes dogLocation: New Market, AlabamaTraining: February 2026 On-Campus Pam, a returning graduate, has received her fifth guide dog from Guiding Eyes. Legally blind since birth due to Retinitis Pigmentosa, she has become a strong… Continue reading Pamela and Elvy
Meet Graduate Douglas Graduate Team: Doug and DeirdreAbout the Team: Deirdre is a female black Lab; Doug’s 1st guide dogLocation: Wake Forest, North CarolinaTraining: February 2026 On-Campus Doug grew up in Brooklyn and Staten Island and went on to earn a degree in history and politics from Pace University in downtown Manhattan. He then spent… Continue reading Douglas and Deirdre
Every guide dog partnership begins long before a harness is placed in hand. It begins with people – dedicated volunteers who give their time, care, and energy to move our mission forward. During National Volunteer Week, we celebrate the full community behind each partnership. From those working hands-on with our pups to those supporting operations in… Continue reading National Volunteer Week 2026
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… Continue reading Austin and Jimbo
Our graduates know better than anyone that life with a guide dog is full of moments that are funny, touching, surprising, and unforgettable, sometimes all at once. Inspired by a graduate’s local library writing contest, our first Miniature Moments contest invited Guiding Eyes graduates to capture true stories from life with their dogs in 50… Continue reading Miniature Moments Contest 2026
Meet Graduate Jean Graduate Team: Jean and AbrahamAbout the Team: Abraham, a black, male Lab; Jean’s 1st guide dogLocation: Strasburg, VirginiaTraining: March 2026 Home Training Jean was born in Kaiserslautern, Germany, where her father was stationed with the U.S. Army. She proudly notes that she was born in a country – West Germany – that… Continue reading Jean and Abraham
Meet Graduate James Graduate Team: James and OrlandoAbout the Team: Orlando, a male black Labrador; Jim’s 2nd Guiding Eyes dogLocation: Austin, TexasTraining: February 2026 On-Campus Jim works for Apple’s AI/ML Siri Data Operations team in Austin, Texas, having relocated from Ohio. Blind since birth, he recently received his second Guiding Eyes dog, a male black… Continue reading James and Orlando
