Diana and Lazz

Meet Graduate Diana

Graduate Team:  Diana and Lazz
About the Team:   Lazz is a male, black Labrador Retriever and Diana’s 1^st guide dog
Location:   Austin, Texas
Training:  June 2024 On-Campus

Diana graduated from Texas State University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration.  After an internship in Austin, TX, she worked for seven years in the finance industry at a bank. For the last 22 years, Diana has worked as a Disability Determination Examiner, making medical and vocational determinations for Social Security. Diana has been legally blind from birth. Throughout her childhood, she adapted and learned how to do things her own way. She played a French Horn in the school band although she couldn’t sightread the music.  She learned the music pieces on her own time.  She didn’t use a cane at that time and tended to walk looking down, many times feeling like a shadow. Years later, Diana is married, and she and her husband have a 24-year-old son. She and her family enjoy walking trails and hiking, as well as barbecues with friends. She is a huge Texas Longhorn fan, enjoys football and basketball, Broadway Across America shows, and spending time with people who are genuinely kind and giving.  She loves to exercise, travel, good food, and laughs with good friends. She looks forward to a long partnership with Lazz,  being more confident and having more control of her own life with more independence.

How would you describe your guide dog? “Lazz is super sweet, and fun,  but very serious while working and very eager to explore and learn new things.  In harness, he is very focused. Working hard for those treats!   When he is off harness, he is silly and likes to play with my son’s corgi, chasing each other around, and getting zoomies. He loves playing with squeaky toys.”

What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “My Orientation and Mobility Specialist introduced me to my friend, Moaz, who has a guide dog from Guiding Eyes. I also have a friend at work who has a guide dog, and I could see how helpful the dogs were. I started to use a cane because I had a number of falls, and I wanted to live as normal as possible.  I don’t know how to say it any other way.  It was hard to face reality, and I’m so glad I have Lazz.”

How has a guide dog impacted your life?  “Lazz has introduced confidence to me.  He is just amazing and makes me feel safe. He is a conversation starter; people are more open to talking to me than if I were a blind person with a cane. For the longest time, it just made me uncomfortable to go to stores, so my husband would do the shopping. Lazz loves guiding me, so now I go to the store. He learned quickly how to get me to my office, the conference room, or wherever I need to go.  Lazz loves to do target training in the office and guiding me through the multiple mazes of cubical space, and up and down the stairs between floors. It’s amazing to experience being able to go out to lunch myself.  He enjoys guiding me at church, and through our favorite hike and bike trails, like Pease Park. Lazz has made a definite positive change in my life. This is only the beginning, and I can only imagine a future of more independence and freedom. The only independence I had was my work, but for the first time in my life, I was able to meet with friends after work by myself. My husband and I do enjoy going into town and Lazz has been a tremendous help navigating around. Life-changing experience!”

Were there any training highlights? “Shannon McGee was my trainer and provided one-on-one training sessions for individual needs-based training. She was remarkable for her level of expertise and gentle kindness and patience. We trained in White Plains, and we took a train to Mt. Kisco.  We went to Walmart and saw the movie ‘In and Out’.  Lazz was perfect in every restaurant.  At the school, Chefs Rob and Peter and the staff did a really great job.  They really took good care of us. The experience was more than I could ever expected from the moment I met Lazz. They have a phenomenal training group.  I was also delighted to meet with the puppy raisers Laura and Jordan.  I am very grateful for the privilege of this amazing guide.”

Meet Guide Dog Lazz

DOB:  2/26/2022
Litter ID: 10L22
Color/Breed:  Black/Labrador
Gender: Male
Brood: Caprice
Stud: Felix TSE
Littermates: Livy, Lupin, Lila, Lisa, Loyal, Lumos, Licorice, Lucille, Laura, Leslie
Region:  Richmond
Regional Puppy Instructor: Madeline Bruggeman
Puppy Raiser:  The Ripol Family, Jordan & Stephen Lock
Facebook: Richmond Puppy Raisers

From the Puppy Raiser…

Lazz has always been an extremely special dog. His mellow and composed nature made him an absolute joy to raise. He would always greet you with constant kisses and butt wiggles. We always knew he would go on to do great things and could not be more excited to him to start this new journey. We know Lazz will not only be a loving companion for Diana but also a tool for greater independence. We wish Diana and Lazz many years of success and happiness together. ~Jordan and Stephen Lock

Lazz has been a true treasure from the first moment I met him when he was just ten weeks old. It’s not often that a Labrador puppy is described as a gentleman and a scholar, but that’s exactly what this handsome boy has always been. Whether it was calmly and gracefully swimming in a little orange life vest his first time in the water, thoughtfully demonstrating his skills in foundation classes, moving with ease from one stage of training to the next, or his gentle confidence and beautiful loving heart, it’s been clear that Lazz was destined for great things. Diana and Lazz, each of you amazes and inspires me; I’m so happy that your respective life journeys have now merged into one!  ~ Laura Ripol

Photos of the Team…