Graduate Team: Benjamin and Viggo
About the Team: Viggo, a male black Lab; Ben’s 1st guide dog
Location: Savannah, Georgia
Training: July 2025 On-Campus
Ben attended Florida Atlantic University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems and Cyber Security in 2023. He is currently working with Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation and a company that develops products for the blind and visually impaired to identify his strengths and weaknesses and determine a suitable position within the company. Ben was born and raised in Maryland and attended the Maryland School for the Blind. He sustained a traumatic brain injury at birth, resulting in paralysis of the right side. At age 6, he lost his vision following brain surgery. Currently, he lives with his mother and has family nearby, as well as a sister in Pennsylvania. Ben enjoys reading, listening to music, and especially singing for fun. He would happily participate in karaoke if there were opportunities in his area. Taking Viggo for walks brings him special joy. With the independence he’s gained as a guide dog user, Ben looks forward to finding a place of his own, possibly in the Orlando, Florida area, where his grandparents and an aunt live. Wherever he settles, Viggo will be by his side.
How would you describe your guide dog? “He is a large 84 lb. Labrador, who is very chill and laid-back, and very patient. In harness, he is great and loves getting treats when he does things well. When I walk, I tend to drift to the right, and all I have to say is ‘Viggo, left’, and he corrects my position. We walk in the neighborhood every day, and he does a good job of guiding me around cars that are in a driveway but protrude into the sidewalk. Savannah is a busy historic city, and Viggo did very well with intersection crossings there. I am looking forward to taking him to the beach and maybe even in a trolley.”
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “Right after finishing college, I knew that my overall goal in life was to be independent. I knew a guide dog would help me with that, so I researched to find a guide school. I chose Guiding Eyes, and it was a good experience. Louise, my trainer, was great. I don’t think I’d ever look for another school.”
How has a guide dog impacted your life? “Having Viggo has made travel a lot easier, my life less stressful, and has given me a lot more independence. Instead of people trying to be helpful, saying to go left or right, Viggo either guides me automatically, or I can direct him since I have some partial sight. I work remotely, and am now happier because I have company. It is a good lifestyle change for me.”
Were there any training highlights? “Our group on campus had a train trip to Beacon, and we traveled to White Plains a few times. Viggo did that well. We went to a couple of coffee shops and Barnes and Noble. He practiced lying down when I stopped several times to look at books. Viggo was great with the other guide dogs, and he is very focused on his job. All the Guiding Eyes staff members were lovely. I’ve never had a better experience or felt more accepted than I was at Guiding Eyes. The staff brought energy to their work, and you knew that they were passionate about their jobs.”
DOB: 3/8/2023
Litter ID: 5V23
Color/Breed: Black/Labrador Retriever
Gender: Male
Brood: Guava
Stud: Arlo
Littermates: Verna, Vega, Velvet, Vanilla, Verbena, Vintage, Voyager, Varsity
Region: North Carolina
Regional Puppy Instructor: Kerry Lemerise
Puppy Raiser: Danielle Kirk
Facebook: North Carolina Puppy Raisers
It was an honor to raise Viggo. He is patient, but makes demands (especially around dinner time); gentle, but strong; and kind, but goofy. He would sit with you for hours or be outside running zoomies in the yard. He would spend hours in the kiddie pool. When I was having a bad day, he would come sit next to me on the floor and rest his head on my shoulder, like he knew that would make it all better. We always knew Viggo was a special pup from that first night that we picked him up, and that he would go on to do wonderful things. We will forever be grateful to have known him and to have been a part of his journey. ~ Danielle Kirk
