Graduate Team: Kevin & Landon
About the team: Landon: male yellow Lab; Kevin’s 1st guide dog
Location: Canton, Massachusetts
Training: January/February 2025 On-Campus
Kevin resides in Canton, Massachusetts, with his guide dog, Landon. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. For the past six years, he has been employed at the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, an Aerospace and Defense organization, where he is currently a senior member of the technical staff. In his free time, Kevin enjoys various types of games, including card games, video games, puzzles, and tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons. He also enjoys reading fantasy novels, particularly works by author Brandon Sanderson. Kevin enjoys playing golf and hopes to participate in the Guiding Eyes annual golf event! The coming months may prove to be busy, as Kevin has many family members eager to meet his new sidekick, Landon!
How would you describe your guide dog? “Landon is a goofball in the best possible way! He’s an absolutely lovable dog with a huge heart. He loves licking me and bringing me over the toy of the hour! From a guide perspective, he’s a quick learner, and I’m very impressed with how fast he learns new things and adapts to new routines.”
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “I have had the thought of a guide dog in my head for a while but held off on applying due to the constant moving around I was doing in college and postgraduate. I am now in a place where life is stable, and I am no longer moving to a new place every year, so I decided it was the right time. I decided to apply to Guiding Eyes in particular because of the positive word of mouth I heard when doing my independent research.”
How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “Landon is my first guide dog, so it is a bit premature to answer, but I will do my best! Initial highlights are the freedom and independence that having a guide dog brings. Additionally, there is nothing quite like the bond you share with your dog – they call dogs man’s best friend for a reason!”
Were there any training highlights? “The camaraderie shared amongst my fellow students and instructors was a highlight. Everyone clicked almost immediately! I felt like we had a well-rounded group with a great sense of humor. The night lesson was a great experience because it required me to put 100% of my trust in Landon only a week after meeting him. A more general highlight would be how the instructors adapted to meet each individual team’s needs. They tailored when needed to ensure each team’s success instead of following a prescribed formula. Another highlight would be the one-on-one time I had with Regional GDMI Kathy after returning home from on-campus training. Kathy spent two days working with me on my routes within my hometown, as well as doing my work commute with me. This was a really beneficial part of the training because this is no longer an exercise, but my real day-to-day life.”
DOB: 10/15/2022
Litter ID: 1L322
Color/Breed: Yellow/Labrador
Gender: Male
Brood: Ellen
Stud: Yarmouth
Littermates: Lincoln, Lotto, Louisa, Lucky, Liv
Region: Northern CT, Southern CT
Regional Puppy Instructor: Maureen Hollis
Puppy Raiser: The Cadigan Family, Leah Foley & Evan Shalagan
Facebook: Northern CT Puppy Raisers
Facebook: Southern CT Puppy Raisers
Landon was the most adorable pup who provided so much love in a small home with four children! He sat with the kids while they did homework, cooked in the kitchen, and loved taking walks. We did not have him in our care as long as we anticipated but have missed him dearly since the day he left. Congratulations Landon! We are so proud of you. ~ The Cadigans
Landon is such a loyal, lovable and smart dog. He is eager to please and very observant. We often joked about his curiosity because he would stare at everyone and everything taking in each new experience. He never failed to put a smile on my face whether it was from one of his silly antics or a proud moment seeing his growth. Thanks for changing my life, Landon, and keep spreading smiles and joy! We’ll forever be cheering for Landon and his new partner. Congratulations to both of you! May you share countless special memories together. ~ Leah Foley
Guiding Eyes for the Blind is approved by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501 (C) (3) tax-exempt organization, and all donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.
Guiding Eyes for the Blind Federal Identification Number (EIN) is 13-1854606.
© 2023 GUIDING EYES FOR THE BLIND PRIVACY POLICY | ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
