Graduate Team: Kaitlynn and Raquel
About the Team: Raquel, a female yellow Lab; Kaitlynn’s 1st guide dog
Location: Plummer, Idaho
Training: March 2026 On-Campus
Kaitlynn has come to Guiding Eyes for her first guide dog, Raquel. Originally from Colorado, she now lives in Idaho, where she is an avid hiker who takes full advantage of the local landscape. She works as a freelancer, tagging digital content to make it accessible, and actively volunteers at local food banks and churches. Every other week, she travels to her grandmother’s home to help care for the animals on the farm. Kaitlynn enjoys audiobooks and is proud of her extensive library of one thousand titles. She also enjoys knitting.
How would you describe your guide dog? “Raquel is loving, super intelligent, and of course, adorable! She is also playful and bounces around the house like Tigger. When Raquel is in her harness, she is very motivated to work and, in turn, keeps me motivated as well.”
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “Having observed guide dogs from several different schools, the Guiding Eyes dogs always stood out and impressed me the most. I met a member of the Guiding Eyes Graduate Council, and she was a wonderful resource as I applied for my own guide dog.”
How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “Raquel has restored my confidence to do everyday things like venture out on a hike or eat in a restaurant. With Raquel, I am comfortable hiking independently on familiar trails. I find navigating with Raquel to be less stressful than relying on the tactile feedback of my cane. Raquel avoids obstacles and keeps me safe. She is a wonderful liaison to the community. Everyone loves a dog, and therefore, I feel others are more comfortable interacting with me. Raquel loves babies and toddlers. I can feel her wiggling through the harness as she sees one nearby.”
Were there any training highlights? “Simply walking with Raquel was a highlight. I describe it as feeling sunshine on one’s face for the first time. It was pure joy, and I could not stop smiling! I enjoyed the small towns we did our training in, and with Raquel, I traveled by train for the very first time. The mall was a great training ground for foundational work, such as the use of escalators. The downtime between classes was wonderful too. Puppy massage and trivia nights were among my favorite activities. Kindness permeated my entire Guiding Eyes experience. Everyone I encountered on campus seemed to know Raquel and instantly treated me as a member of the Guiding Eyes family. Training for me was such a positive, happy experience. I determined there must be magic in the walls of the campus buildings! I was able to meet Raquel’s puppy raiser, and we stay in contact, sharing Raquel’s progress. I am also learning about the raiser’s work raising her new Guiding Eyes puppy, Splash. I will always return to Guiding Eyes for my future guide dogs.”
DOB: 11/16/2023
Litter ID: 5R323
Color/Breed: Yellow/Labrador Retriever
Gender: Female
Brood: Coco
Stud: Ulysses
Littermates: Raven, Rhyme, Rufus, Rosa, Rindy
Region: Wayne; Central NY
Regional Puppy Instructor: MeKalea Chambliss
Puppy Raiser: Meagan Christian; Gianna Frank
Facebook: Wayne County Puppy Raisers
Facebook: Central NY Puppy Raisers
