Graduate Team: Franny and Tatum
About the Team: Tatum, a female yellow Lab, is Franny’s 2nd guide dog
Hometown: Flagstaff, Arizona
Training: August 2026 On-Campus
Franny is in her junior year at Northern Arizona University, studying psychology and minoring in disability studies. After graduation, she plans to pursue a PhD in psychology, with the goal of becoming a clinical psychologist, focusing on individuals with physical or sensory disabilities. She is actively involved with NAU’s Canine Companions organization on campus. In her free time, Franny enjoys listening to fantasy audiobooks and recently got into sci-fi after reading Project Hail Mary. When she’s not busy with classes, Franny takes the time to unwind outdoors on campus, often relaxing on the benches outside of the campus dining hall. When she’s home from college, Franny loves spending time with her younger sister, to whom she is especially close. Her sister has an impressive collection of reptiles, including everything from bearded dragons to geckos, as well as a tarantula. However, Franny is perfectly content to limit her interactions with them and save her attentions for her guide dog, Tatum.
How would you describe your guide dog? “She is definitely a playful dog off harness. She is so goofy. I took her to the volleyball court on a long leash and brought out a squeaky toy that she doesn’t get often because it is so loud. Every once in a while, at a certain point, she will pounce on it like she’s doing CPR, and it is the cutest thing ever. She also adores people and is such an attention seeker. She started snoring during my classes, but I’m pretty sure she must be fake snoring because she knows people react to it. It’s not, like, a quiet, subtle snore. It’s a full-on cartoon snore.”
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “I like having a dog at my side again – that feels really amazing.”
How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “We’re still figuring each other out, but having a dog by my side, living on a college campus, has been really nice. Since my college campus has scooters, having a dog with better eyesight than me is especially helpful. It can be really frustrating, because of how our sidewalk systems are set up with a sidewalk right next to a bike path. There’s no separation between the two, so oftentimes people decide to ride into the sidewalk and stay there instead of the bike lane.”
Were there any training highlights? “It was a great experience overall. My understanding of what to ask was better since this was not my first time being in class. I knew what to ask in that regard.”
DOB: 8/24/24
Litter ID: 12X24
Color/Breed: Yellow Labrador Retriever
Gender: Female
Brood: Courage SEGD
Stud: Gerald
Littermates: Nanook, Nectar, Nash, Nutmeg, Nation, Nesbit
Region: Delmarva Puppy Raising Region
Regional Puppy Instructor: Cindy Tait
Puppy Raiser: Stacey Wolf, Julia Hall
Facebook: Delmarva Puppy Raisers
