Beth and Calypso

Meet Graduate Beth

Graduate Team:  Beth and Calypso
About the Team:  Calypso, a female yellow Lab, Beth’s 4th guide dog, 1^st from Guiding Eyes
Location:  Westbrook, Connecticut
Training: February 2025 On-Campus

Beth and her husband of 51 years moved to the Connecticut shore in recent years. They enjoy taking daily walks along rural roads and look forward to walking on the beach with Calypso. They have two daughters: one lives nearby, while the other resides in Georgia. They often travel to Georgia to see their daughter and their five grandchildren. Beth has been active with the National Federation of the Blind for 25 years, serving as President for several years. She has held various board positions and has engaged with legislative issues at the state and federal levels. Additionally, she was appointed by the Governor to the State Advisory Board for the Blind, a group she has worked with for years. She recently advocated for urgently needed supplies for blind schoolchildren in Connecticut. Declared legally blind at age 17, Beth got her first guide dog at age 45. Calypso is her fourth, but the first guide dog from Guiding Eyes. Beth and her husband enjoy attending concerts as well as shows at the nearby Katharine Hepburn Museum. Beth also appreciates her monthly visits with a friend in West Hartford.

How would you describe your guide dog?  “Calypso is strong, energetic, attentive, very smart, and she is beautiful. She and my retired female guide get along so well. Calypso is great and is always watching out for me and is bonding well.    You show them something once, and they remember.  During training, as we approached an intersection, a car suddenly came by and ran the red light.  Calypso did exactly what she was supposed to do and quickly stopped and backed me up.  She is doing well in harness and is getting used to walking in our community, where we have few sidewalks. We did a route four times, and she knows it already.  She is doing really well.”

What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “I met Kathy Rooney, a Guiding Eyes remote instructor, at a Connecticut Conference. I was interested in having a smaller dog, and Kathy suggested I look into Guiding Eyes because, as a bigger school, I might get in sooner. It turned out my wait was not too long. The follow-up from the school has been great.”

How has a guide dog impacted your life? “Having a guide dog has significantly increased my feeling of security, independence, and confidence. My guide dogs and the schools that provide them have encouraged me to gain strength and trust in my ability and my independence.”

Were there any training highlights?  “Guiding Eyes has a new training center in White Plains, a large space on the first floor of a building. When a fire alarm went off, the dogs quickly began to lead us out. All was well. At the school, the dorms were really nice. Every student room has a walk-in shower, a refrigerator, and a door leading outside so you can ‘park’ your dog. As far as dining, the food was good, and Peter, who did the serving, was friendly, attentive, and great.  Before coming to the school, Chef Rob asked what I would like in my refrigerator, if I had allergies, and if I preferred half of a sandwich rather than a whole. We did a lot of different training activities, and I enjoyed taking a train ride to Beacon. I met the puppy raisers at graduation, and they were super nice people. We’ve kept in touch since then.”

Meet Guide Dog Calypso

DOB:  1/3/2023
Litter ID: 3C23
Color/Breed:  Yellow/Labrador
Gender: Female
Brood: Irie
Stud: Shadow
Littermates: Chesney, Cashew, Chula, Clarence
Region:  Bay
Regional Puppy Instructor: Cindy Tait
Puppy Raiser:  Galyean Family
Facebook: Bay Puppy Raisers

From the Puppy Raiser…

It has been an honor raising Calypso who is now your loyal friend, guide and companion. Calypso came to our lives full of curiosity and desire to learn. She exceled right away and became part of our family. We’ve shared countless moments of joy, learning, and love, and now it’s time for this incredible girl to flourish with you. Trust in her intuition and strength, and Calypso will walk beside you through every chapter of this new journey. Embrace the future with confidence and joy, for together, you will overcome any obstacle and create beautiful memories. May your days be filled with mutual trust, love, and the unbreakable bond that defines this extraordinary partnership. With heartfelt wishes, The Galyean Family 

Photos of the Team…