Graduate Team: Helen and Quinoa
About the Team: Quinoa, a female Black Lab; Helen’s 2nd guide dog
Location: Denver, Colorado
Training: December Home Training
Helen was born in China and completed her undergraduate degree in Wisconsin. She continued her education by earning a master’s from the University of Washington and an MBA from the University of Denver. She worked for many years as a research chemist before losing her sight. She later continued her career in medical research in California. Helen is currently involved in Colorado’s Business Enterprise Program, which creates entrepreneurial opportunities for blind individuals. Helen runs a café, vending service, and food service in the NOAA federal building in Boulder, CO, a facility that houses atmospheric and space research, as well as the National Weather Service. Her business also services the National Institute of Standards and Technology, where the NIST atomic clock is located. Her guide dog, Quinoa, accompanies her to work and is a popular presence there. About a month after beginning her partnership with Quinoa, Helen happily celebrated her 76th birthday. She lives with one of her two sons in Denver, and loves to garden, finding happiness in tending her vegetable and flower gardens. She also enjoys playing with her current guide dog, Quinoa, and her retired guide, Whitley.
How would you describe your guide dog? “Quinoa is very calm for a 2-year-old. She is very smart and works very well in harness. Around Denver, Quinoa and I travel by bus, Uber, paratransit, and light rail. At home, she is very good when in the house and enjoys going outside to sniff and discover who else might have been in the yard.”
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “My orientation and mobility instructor in Denver went to a presentation about Guiding Eyes, then introduced me. My regional guide dog mobility instructor and regular trainer is Melissa, and she trained me at home.”
How has a guide dog impacted your life? “Whitley is 9 years old now and grateful to have Quinoa as a friend. Having a guide dog like Whitley, and now Quinoa, gives me independence to go to the store, to a restaurant, and to find the curbs. She stops me for traffic lights and cars, and helps me navigate. As part of training, they teach the dogs what they call traffic checks, where the dog will stop and back me up a little if a car is coming that I may not hear. Where I used to live, there were talking traffic lights, so both my dog and I could be safe, and now my guide keeps me safe around traffic. At work, people love having a dog around. When I’m working in the kitchen making salads, sandwiches, and burritos, and her harness is off, I use the tie down, and then people are allowed to pet her.”
Were there any training highlights? “It was so helpful to walk in my own neighborhood – to walk to the stores, to walk downtown, and take the bus downtown with Melissa. Training with a dog in New York City is very different from being in Boulder. Melissa, Quinoa, and I went on the train, on the light rails, and they also went to NOAA with me to find the right place to walk. Because of security, Uber cannot take me in NOAA, and I must walk 10-15 minutes to get there. In my neighborhood, we had to get used to the narrow sidewalks, where the dog must walk on the grass, and with cars parked in the road, you sometimes have to avoid walking into side view mirrors. It was very helpful to train with Melissa in my neighborhood, doing all my everyday activities.”
DOB: 10/28/2023
Litter ID: 1Q323
Color/Breed: Black/Labrador Retriever
Gender: Female
Brood: Quay
Stud: Darren
Littermates: Quasar, Quinlan
Region: Maine
Regional Puppy Instructor: Lisa Bumbalo
Puppy Raiser: Chur & Jeff Masors, Sally Swanson
Facebook: Maine Puppy Raisers
Quinoa is a sweet, smart girl with lots of personality. She attended my car and knitting groups and was loved by everyone. She also attended my exercise class. She would softly sing or talk with the music, but was always quiet when the instructor was talking. She attended a six week beginning agility class. She would watch the other 5 dogs go through their paces, the when it was her turn she would ace the workout. She is a love. ~ Sally Swanson
