Graduate Team: Katherine and Morgan
About the Team: Morgan, a female black Lab; Kitty’s 4th Guiding Eyes dog
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Training: May 2026 Home Training
Kitty received home training in May and was partnered with her fourth guide dog from Guiding Eyes, a female black Labrador named Morgan. She is retired and has spent over 20 years teaching independent living skills to children and adults with visual impairments, including the use of adaptive computer equipment. She has also served on several disability advisory boards for the state of Ohio. Kitty has lived all over the country, from Cincinnati to Boston, Hartford, Syracuse, Palo Alto, and back to Cincinnati. While in Hartford, Kitty worked for the national membership organization of amateur radio operators, where she coordinated their program for people with disabilities who were interested in amateur radio, and she authored a column in their monthly journal on relevant FCC rules. It was in Cincinnati that Kitty settled and bought her first house in 2003, a home she was drawn to for its fenced-in back yard and proximity to public transportation. In her free time, Kitty enjoys a variety of water activities, reading, and using her skill as a licensed amateur radio operator to provide safety communications for civic events and emergencies.
How would you describe your guide dog? “Morgan is intelligent and very affectionate. She comes up on me quietly with her 2 front legs and hugs me. She is very conscientious. If I bump into something once, Morgan remembers, and it never happens again. Morgan gets along great with my retired guide dog. She has a soft whine, which I’m still trying to figure out.”
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “When I lived in Syracuse, I worked with a woman who had a dog from Guiding Eyes. Her dog would take her through the snow effortlessly, while my cane took a lot of time. Ironically, I first interviewed with Guiding Eyes in the 1980’s, but at the time I was living in California and didn’t think I needed a guide dog, as my cane worked fine. As the years went on, using a cane became physically painful due to joint inflammation. I also noticed how people interacted with their dogs. A Guiding Eyes field rep visited and gave me a walking assessment. I really liked what they were doing there. I came to learn that Guiding Eyes prefers on-campus training, but since I was unable to take the time off from work, my home training was accommodated. That meant a lot. One of my previous guide dogs was with me when we carried the torch in the 2002 Olympics. While the Olympic Committee did not take a picture of Sunstar and me, Guiding Eyes sent a photographer and took a picture, which was submitted to the Olympic Committee for publication. That was impressive.”
How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “Having a guide dog has enabled me to continue to be independent. I can still go places, do whatever I want to do. Having Morgan helps me avoid things getting in the way when I go to the fitness center, PT, the doctor, and meetings. I have several orthopedic issues, which limit my exercise sometimes, but Morgan is a motivator, and she makes it possible for me to get out and about.”
Were there any training highlights? “After we had worked in a few different places – such as the fitness center -Morgan successfully guided me from the drop-off point into the building, then to the front desk and the locker room. Then we went to the pool area, and onto the hot tub, and all the way back out again. That was a highlight from the Guiding Eyes training.”
DOB: 10/2/2023
Litter ID: 8J323
Color/Breed: Black/Labrador Retriever
Gender: Female
Brood: Irene
Stud: Arnie
Littermates: Joan, Jady, Java, July
Region: Wayne County
Regional Puppy Instructor: MeKalea Chambliss
Puppy Raiser: Tara and Mackenzie Kesel
Facebook: Wayne County Puppy Raisers
Right from the get-go, I knew Morgan was an incredible girl. She always seemed to know when a person needed comforting or when they were in a really good mood, and she’d match her energy. I most enjoyed the bond I was able to create with her, and the memories I have from this experience. I hope that she and her person enjoy each other and do great things! ~ Mackenzie Kesel
