Graduate Team: Donna and Quasi
About the Team: Quasi, a male, black Labrador Retriever is Donna’s 2nd guide dog
Location: Newport News, Virginia
Training: July 2024 On-Campus
Donna is a lifelong resident of Virginia and graduated from the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind in Hampton, VA. Donna came to Guiding Eyes for the first time to be trained with her second guide dog, Quasi. She has a love for working with children and previously worked as a teacher’s assistant. Now that she has more independence working with Quasi, she hopes to return to a similar role. She lives with her husband and has an adult son along with two grandchildren. Donna is glad to have Quasi by her side in her daily life, boosting her confidence and ensuring her safety.
How would you describe your guide dog? “Quasi is a very good dog. He is two years old and when he is not working, he loves to play with squeaky toys. On a recent trip to the beach, I saw what an enthusiastic and good swimmer he is! Quasi is doing a good job learning my routes and together we are practicing handling curbs.”
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “I had a guide dog previously from a different school and wanted another. I had heard good things about Guiding Eyes, so I applied and began the process.”
How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “Quasi is very helpful in navigating my daily activities. I am able to do more things confidently and safely with him. We ride the city bus together to appointments and errands. Quasi is a great shopper! Recently Quasi sensed a car was coming toward us. He knew exactly what to do! He backed up and directed me to do the same, keeping us both safe.”
Were there any training highlights? “Guiding Eyes did a great job with the training, including both the preparation and follow-up. It was my first trip to New York and even before I arrived on the Guiding Eyes campus, I was given orientation information. This really helped me feel prepared and ready to train. The campus was easy to navigate, and the food was delicious! I enjoyed getting to know the other students in the class. The entire staff was very kind and helpful. The trainers worked to adjust and adapt the training to my needs and learning style. The personal attention made me more comfortable and confident. Quasi and I spent time practicing staying focused and avoiding distractions while working. When I returned to Virginia, my trainer Stephanie came to follow up and assist Quasi and me with some additional training in my home environment. I highly recommend Guiding Eyes to others considering a guide dog.”
DOB: 7/21/2022
Litter ID: 4QQ22
Color/Breed: Black/Labrador
Gender: Male
Brood: Coco
Stud: Arlo
Littermates: Quentin, Quintessa, Quarter, Quigley, Quantas, Quinbie
Region: Montgomery
Regional Puppy Instructor: Jeanyne Gembarski
Puppy Raiser: Linda Lewis
Facebook: Montgomery Puppy Raisers
From the moment he got off the Pilots to the Rescue plane, he was Quasi the Adorable. He learned quickly, and was curious about everything but fearful of nothing. He loved trips to Starbucks, Pensey’s Spices, and Maryland women’s basketball games. Raising Quasi made us think about exploring the world through the eyes of a puppy. He was our first GEB pup, and we learned what was expected of a future guide dog right along with him. The persistent, hardworking Quasi will be a faithful companion and guide. Quasi the Adorable will snuggle up, give you puppy kisses, and bring you joy when you’ve had a bad day. Enjoy your pup, and know we wish you a long, successful partnership. ~ Linda Lewis and Laura Ediger
Guiding Eyes for the Blind is approved by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501 (C) (3) tax-exempt organization, and all donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.
Guiding Eyes for the Blind Federal Identification Number (EIN) is 13-1854606.
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