Graduate Team: Kathy and Avis
About the Team: Avis, a female black Labrador; Kathy’s 9th Guiding Eyes dog
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Training: March 2026 On-Campus
Kathy works as a benefits counselor and enjoys hiking and making leather goods in her free time. She lost her sight to retinitis pigmentosa in the 1980s. Kathy and her husband have been married for 25 years and have four grown children who are all on their own. They enjoy hiking, traveling, and spending time with their children and grandchildren. Both Kathy and her husband work hybrid schedules, splitting their time between the office and home. They share their home with two parrots, two small dogs, and Avis.
How would you describe your guide dog? “Avis is a dog who works hard and plays hard. She does not know the meaning of personal space – my space is her space. I love that about her. Avis is a little lapdog in a Lab body. She will quietly sneak into my lap, and lay her head on my chest to be loved on every evening. Avis loves to work, and downtown is her favorite place to be. At work, she likes to relax, looking out the window as the world goes by.”
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “Avis is my 12th dog. Guiding Eyes produces great working dogs. Not all guide dog schools are equal. At Guiding Eyes, you know you will get a well-trained dog.”
How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “Having a guide dog allows me to continue to work, travel for meetings, trainings, and for pleasure. Getting around without a guide dog is like being without wings. Having a guide dog allows you to fly. Avis allows me to travel quickly with confidence, knowing I will get to my location safely.”
Were there any training highlights? “Avis was excited to train every day. She worked well in teams and independently.”
DOB: 12/15/2023
Litter ID: 2A423
Color/Breed: Black/Labrador Retriever
Gender: Female
Brood: Ocean
Stud: Brody
Littermates: Alden, Aruba, Adora, Austin, Arnold, Atlas, Arwen
Region: SCT, Columbus
Regional Puppy Instructor: Leslie Stephens
Puppy Raiser: Maureen Hollis, Olivia Jones, Maedison-Louise Hughes
Facebook: Columbus Puppy Raisers
Avis was from the first litter out of our sweet brood, Ocean. I was happy to have the opportunity to raise a grand puppy. Avis proved to have the same sweet disposition as her mother, and she was great with people of all ages. Because I had a knee replacement in the middle of the experience, Avis was finished by another raiser. This truly exemplifies why it can take a village to raise a guide dog! Thank you to everyone who helped her on her journey to guide dog! ~ Maureen Hollis
Avis is the complete definition of loving. Her affectionate personality shines daily as she rubs against ur leg and leans in for any kind of pets. I knew Avis would be an amazing guide dog from the day I met her! Talk about a dog that loves to work! She kept every walk interesting with her attentiveness and eagerness to learn. She has always responded well to verbal praise making conversations with her quite fun with her occasional head tilts. Avis loved showing off her new bandanas and got many compliments on how cute she is!! Avis is an amazing companion and pup and builds the strongest connections with whoever she meets! ~ Maedison Hughes
