Jerry and Elias

Meet Graduate Jerry

Graduate Team:  Jerry and Elias
About the Team: Elias, male yellow Lab; Jerry’s 2nd guide dog
Location: Abbot, Maine
Training: April 2025, On-Campus

Jerry and his wife have retired to Abbot, a small town in central Maine. Jerry previously worked with the North Carolina Division of Services for the Blind in Raleigh, NC. He had also volunteered at a VA Blind Rehabilitation Center in Texas. He and his wife continue their volunteer work by helping out at the Abbot Historical Society and the nearby branch of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. They enjoy outdoor activities whenever the weather permits, particularly gardening and hiking. Jerry is an avid hiker, as is his new guide dog, Elias, a yellow Lab. They enjoy daily walks and look forward to every new adventure.

How would you describe your guide dog? “Elias has a phenomenal energy level! We have such a great connection, and he is so intuitive to my needs. Even the trainers commented on our connection. I just love him so much. He’s a lot bigger than my first guide dog, Simone, but sometimes he thinks he’s a lap dog. I’ve had dogs my whole life, but I’ve continued to learn so much from having guide dogs. I was able to catch some of the distractions Elias had right off the bat. He listened, and now most of them are no longer distractions. We go shopping every weekend, in different counties to mix it up. We hike every morning and just got back from the river. I can take him to a place he’s never been, and he’s spot on. We have such a connection, and he pays such good attention and loves working. He’s exactly what I needed, and now I’m back to being the active person I’ve always been. With Elias’s energy, I can go at my full pace, which is on the faster side!”

What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes?  “It was the luck of the draw. I lost sight in my first eye in 2008, and in my second one in 2013. I started looking into getting some assistance because I really wanted to move forward with my life. I traveled a lot, and I wanted to do more. I applied to three guide dog schools, and Guiding Eyes was the first to respond, thankfully, because they were amazing. I would never consider anywhere else. My first guide dog, Simone, was amazing and worked for many years – she just never wanted to stop. Just one week after she died, I got the phone call that they had a match for me, and that was very soon, but I had to keep going. It was so hard because we had been together so long, but Elias was great, and we connected right away.”

How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “Having a guide dog has given me more confidence and independence than I ever dreamed of. I used a cane for the first 2 years after I lost my sight, and thought I had it down pretty well, but the extra confidence a guide dog gives me is something so meaningful, it’s hard to describe. A guide dog gives me freedom, confidence, and increases my skill level; there’s nothing I can’t do! I go hiking alone with my guide dog every morning. We live in Maine and could go for hours if we wanted to. He will stop when there’s a mud puddle or a fallen log, just as if it were stairs. Elias and I do a lot of work together and practice at home every day, walking the property, even if we don’t go anywhere else. Guide dogs have taught me to be a much better dog handler and work as a team. Now it’s second nature. I learned that you have to trust the guide, and that’s what I told my classmates. The day I did with my first guide dog, it changed my life! The ability to trust made it easier when I got Elias because I knew I had to trust him. I was so thankful he knew what he had to do. Of course, there are times when I have to redirect him, but most of the time, I can just let go.”

Were there any training highlights? “There were so many things! I loved our night walk, for one. That is the kind of thing I always enjoy, especially if the other people like it too. In class, the instructors said we’re going to a town that the dogs have not been to before. You would have thought Elias had been there a million times! He was absolutely perfect. To me, that was the highlight because it told me we were a perfect match. I also really enjoyed meeting new people and being able to help them and see their enjoyment and growth. As said in my graduation speech, it touched my heart to be part of their journey and reminded me of how effective the trainers and instructors are.”  

Meet Guide Dog Elias

DOB:  9/12/2022
Litter ID: 3E322
Color/Breed:  Yellow/Labrador
Gender: Male
Brood: Locket
Stud: Everett
Littermates: Edsel, Everest, Ellie, Echo, Éclair
Region:  Baltimore
Regional Puppy Instructor: Jeanyne Gembarski
Puppy Raiser:  April Cropper
Facebook: Baltimore Puppy Raisers

From the Raiser…

Elias was always a devoted sweet high energy pup, and sometimes people often couldn’t believe the difference between his goofy puppy play energy and his ability to switch to focused “in-vest working energy”. He went everywhere beautifully with great manners and was always game for new experiences. At home he overlapped with a big brother, GEB pup Onslo, who is now a guide dog outside Philadelphia and showed him what good manners are. His best friend was our cat Ada. Elias regularly went to work at 2 offices and got to do lots of outings including: concerts, baseball, hockey, camping, shopping, firehouses, road trips, school visits, hiking, and swim practice and many more. He knows how to keep up with a busy family and when to cuddle for a nap. Elias is a handsome man, not only because of his striking color and model worthy figure, but mostly because of the intense heart of gold that shows in his gaze. Good Luck Elias, you are much loved and missed. We are thrilled that you have found your ideal match! ~ April Cropper

Photos of the Team…