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Joseph and Pablo

Meet Graduate Joseph

Graduate Joseph and yelllow Lab guide dog PabloGraduate Team: Joseph and Pablo
About the Team: Pablo, a male yellow Lab, is Joseph’s 1st Guiding Eyes dog
Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina
Guide Dog Mobility Instructor:  Caryn Fellows
March On-Campus Training

Joseph lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is engaged to fiancé Quameisha, a recent Guiding Eyes graduate of the December 2021 residential class. Quameisha, was trained with her first guide dog, Waylon. Joseph was legally blind at birth, but lost most of his vision in his late teens. Now in his 30’s, he is only able to distinguish day from night.  Joseph’s previous two guide dogs were from other schools, and he is pleased with his decision to apply to Guiding Eyes for his third. Joseph is employed at LC Industries (LCI), a company whose mission is to provide employment to the visually impaired. He works at its manufacturing/assembly plant building mattresses. Joseph shares that he loves the outdoors, and enjoys long walks, and life. 

How would you describe your guide dog? “Pablo has an amazing, wonderful personality. He is the best guide dog I have had. He is well trained and works hard. He enjoys playing tug-of-war with Waylon, my fiancé’s guide dog. He also loves belly rubs.”

What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “I have friends with dogs from Guiding Eyes, and they were very happy with their training. I also heard publicity about Guiding Eyes on the television, and I liked what I heard about the school.  My decision to go to Guiding Eyes has been the right decision.”

How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “I have greater freedom to move around with a guide dog. Before, when I relied on a cane, I felt restricted and less safe. I would run into various obstacles, including tree branches, and I took many missteps.”

Were there any training highlights? “This was my best experience getting a guide dog. My guide dog instructor was Caryn Fellows. She is top notch, and the best trainer I have experienced. She knew what she was doing.”

Meet Guide Dog Pablo

Pablo is a happy dog who was a joy to raise. He made me laugh every day. He is sweet, goofy and lovable. I always referred to him as the ambassador because he got along and played well with all of the other dogs he came in contact with. Pablo loved to go on hikes in our local parks and loved to cool off in the stream along the way. I always enjoyed the mornings with Pablo, when he was so happy to start the day with lots of affection, shown in many different ways. He isn’t much of a “kisser”, but he loves to put his snoot right up to your face and snort. We called these “snooty kisses” and he was happy to oblige!

Holly Voelker, Puppy Raiser of Pablo

 

Enjoy these photos of the team and Pablo as a pup on program…