Meet Graduate Ibraheem
Graduate Team: Ibraheem and Jake
About the Team: Jake, a male yellow Lab, is Ibraheem’s 1st guide dog
Location: Staten Island, New York
Training: March Home Training
Ibraheem, 31, was born and raised in Brooklyn. He currently resides in Staten Island with his wife of five years, Basima, a kindergarten teacher. They are the proud parents of two daughters, Arwa, who is 3 years old, and Yusra, 21 months old. Ibraheem attended Brooklyn College, majoring in Physics and Education while minoring in Mathematics. He completed his graduate studies at Hunter College with a degree in Special Education and is licensed to teach the visually impaired. Ibraheem is employed by the New York City Department of Education as an instructor for the visually impaired. He is also a math tutor and a consultant for individuals with developmental disabilities. He was born with retinitis pigmentosa and has some light perception. Ibraheem’s hobbies and interests keep him active, and they include weightlifting, jujitsu, traveling internationally, and trying culturally diverse foods.
How would you describe your guide dog? “Jake is my first guide dog, who is fun and very eager to please. My nickname for him is Rocket because he moves so fast.”
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “I have a friend who received a guide dog from Guiding Eyes. I was also interested in their running program.”
How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “My religion and its tenets focus on valuing time. Jake affords me the ability to ponder and reflect on my surroundings and my day’s work while still arriving to my destination punctually. Prior to Jake, using a cane amounted to an experience of constant collision. Having Jake as a guide reminds me of what fluid, independent travel feels like.”
Were there any training highlights? “When coming home from my evening jujitsu class, Jake and I met each successive curb with resounding speed and accuracy. Amid the route, Jake and I narrowly dodged a fence. After Jake realized how close we were to a potential accident, he looked back at me with eyes of understanding and negotiated us farther around the obstacle. Witnessing his intelligence to accommodate both our bodies while rocketing through New York City, spoke volumes about his proficiency.”
Meet Guide Dog Jake
DOB: 5/10/2020
Litter ID: 4JJ20
Color/Breed: Yellow/Labrador Retriever
Gender: Male
Brood: Mercy
Stud: Yarmouth
Littermates: Juniper, Journey, Jane, Julie, Jim
Region: Fingerlakes
Regional Puppy Instructor: Cassie Houghton
Puppy Raiser: Katherine Urbano
Facebook: Fingerlakes Puppy Raisers
Special Recognition: Jake was named by the NM Morris Family Foundation in memory of a beloved family ancestor.
From the Puppy Raiser…
As my first Guiding Eyes pup, Jake will always have a special place in my heart. Receiving him during the peak of the pandemic lockdown was truly a gift. Training him while also in college is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. Jake knows just how to cheer someone up, always bringing smiles to everyone around him. He is a cuddling expert and never misses a chance to share the love. I will never forget how much he loved working at a fast pace and I am so happy to know he’ll have lots of running in the future. It was a joy to work with Jake and be a part of his journey, many best wishes to this graduate team! ~ Kat Urbano, Puppy Raiser
Photos of the Team…
