Graduate Team: Christopher and Nigel
About the Team: Nigel, a male, yellow Lab, is Chris’s first guide dog
Location: Mocksville, North Carolina
Training: June 2024 On-Campus
*Sensitive Content*Chris comes to Guiding Eyes for his first guide dog. His partnership with Nigel is a bright spot in a story that begins in a very dark period of his life. Four years ago, Chris had a new job as a plant machine operator after previous work in the masonry trade. Unfortunately, depression and drugs were consuming his life and ultimately drove his attempt to take his own life with a gun. His condition was grave; he suffered two cardiac arrests and lost his sight during a lengthy hospitalization. His family was given little hope, yet he survived. Chris is committed to turning this experience around, and sharing with others that there is a better way, and everything is possible. He asserts that his horrific event saved his life in the long run, sparing him from being taken by drugs, crime, or incarceration. He proudly shares that while training with Nigel on campus, he hit a milestone of 4-years drug-free. Chris remains an avid outdoorsman, passionate about activities such as hunting and fishing. His goal is to give back by forming a non-profit organization focused on introducing challenged children and youth to outdoor activities, providing the experience of fishing, hunting, or other adaptive sports. Chris also looks forward to getting back into the workforce and is considering opportunities with the Forestry Department or the Fish and Wildlife Management Service. He lives in a small town, and his mother and grandfather, who remain so supportive in his recovery, reside nearby. Nigel is surrounded by loving family and a partner who appreciates every day with him.
How would you describe your guide dog? “Awesome! Nigel has been a life changer, and I love him from the bottom of my heart. He has adapted well to the move from Massachusetts to New York to North Carolina and loves being outside. He is great in harness, and although we only have a couple of traffic lights in town, he routinely, and happily gets me to the curb. We go on walks to the park every day.”
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “Learning to cope with my blindness led me to the Governor Morehead School for the Blind in Raleigh, North Carolina. There I met someone who spoke at the school about going back to work, and she had a Guiding Eyes guide dog. Nikki, who was an instructor with Guiding Eyes, came to visit and gave us more information about the school. I also have a friend coming to Guiding Eyes soon, to get her first guide dog.”
How has a guide dog impacted your life? “Tremendously! I now have a best friend who is always there and so happy to see me, and always wagging his tail. He helps me a lot, both emotionally, and physically with my balance and mobility. Now I can walk without a cane since getting Nigel.”
Were there any training highlights? “Kat was my trainer, and she was awesome. We practiced so many things. We did a night walk and rode on a train where he had lots of space to stretch out because no one was sitting next to me. We did a simulation of being on a plane since some students, like me, would be traveling back home by plane. We learned to back the guide dog into the space at our seats. When we went out to eat, Nigel was great, doing a ‘down’ on command and lying quietly under the table. If something dropped on the floor, I said, ‘Leave it.’, and he did. We also went to the Beacon Mall, Starbucks, Lowes, and Walmart and he did just great. I enjoyed it and wished the class was 3 weeks, rather than 2 weeks long. We flew home from LaGuardia back to North Carolina. We did it all.”
*If you or a loved one are in crisis, dial 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline where counselors are available 24/7.
DOB: 3/10/2022
Litter ID: 3N22
Color/Breed: Yellow/Labrador
Brood: Emblem
Stud: Everett
Littermates: Richie, Neala, Nutella, Nexus, Russell, Navy, Newton, Nomad, Nashville
Region: Eastern MA, Rhode Island
Regional Puppy Instructor: Lisa Bumbalo, Maureen Hollis
Puppy Raiser: Vecere Sinesi Family, Olivia Lubrano
Facebook: Eastern Mass Puppy Raisers
Facebook: Rhode Island Puppy Raisers
Nigel was the funniest puppy we every had. He was loving and playful and was IN LOVE with our newfy Enzo, they just adored each other. He was a big boy at sixty pounds at six months when he went off to college with his finisher. He transitioned to college like a champ. I loved doing surface work on the docks and ramps around Gloucester with Nigel. He is the most handsome boy and we loved his extra puppy skin and worried eyebrow look, but we could tell he never worried about much. Such a sweet boy we are so proud of him! ~Tomra Vecere
Nigel is such a sweet, fun-loving, and silly boy. I am so grateful to have raised him. He will never fail to make you smile and laugh. He was the best part of my junior year of college at URI. He loves attention and being by your side at all times. He is hardworking, curious, and a very happy boy. The best reward for Nigel is a new toy or play time. I’m so proud of him and I can’t wait to watch him grow even more! ~Olivia Lubrano