Leslie and Othello

Meet Graduate Leslie

Graduate Team: Leslie and Othello
About the Team: Othello, a male yellow Lab; Leslie’s 5th guide and 4th from Guiding Eyes
Location:  Olympia, Washington
Training: May 2025 On Campus

Leslie, originally from Texas, moved to Oregon to attend the University of Oregon and pursue her higher education. After graduating with a degree in comparative literature and German, she chose to stay on the West Coast. She pursued her Masters in Special Education and served as a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments and an orientation and mobility specialist with her first two Guiding Eyes Dogs. She now makes her home in Washington State, south of Seattle, with Othello and her retired guide dog Gwenny. Leslie now works for the American Printing House for the Blind, supporting Teachers and families across the Northwest with assistive technology training.  In her free time, she enjoys hiking, riding her horses, and spending time with friends.

How would you describe your guide dog? “Othello is a very sweet dog who loves to work. We call him a ‘mellow yellow’. He enjoys walking in the neighborhood and taking the bus downtown to meet friends. While working, nothing distracts him, but he is so much fun to play with. After work, once his harness is off, he will zoom around the yard with my friend’s dog but will always come back to check in with me or play tug.”

What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes?  “I like the way Guiding Eyes trains their dogs. I also enjoy the field support available to graduates.”

How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “I got my first dog when I was eighteen. I find working with a dog to be smoother and more efficient. I travel a lot, and I like to move fast. I am a good cane user, but a dog gives me an easier, more natural movement. In the past, I have flown with my guide dogs. I haven’t had to fly for work with Othello yet, but he helps me take trains and buses on a regular basis.”Were there any training highlights? “Our class was a lot of fun with plenty of joking and laughter. The training staff was willing to provide us with all the experiences we needed, including walking through puddles and downpours of rain. I also got to work with Othello in Manhattan, to help prepare us both to work in a busy city environment.”

Meet Guide Dog Othello

DOB:  2/14/2023
Litter ID: 9O23
Color/Breed:  Yellow/Labrador
Gender: Male
Brood: Jane
Stud: Loki
Littermates: Orson, Orion, Odyssey, Orleans, Omaha, Ohio, Ozark, Okie, Odette
Region:  Westchester County
Regional Puppy Instructor: Monika Conrad
Puppy Raiser:  The Meller Family
Facebook: Westchester NY Puppy Raisers

From the Puppy Raiser…

Othello loves being around people but loves to curl up in his bed even more. Othello shows his love loudly, whether it is choosing to lie down on your feet, leaning his full body weight on you, or giving lots of kisses. Although Othello is serious about his work and never loses focus, he really lives up to the “work hard, play hard” way of life. We know Othello will be a confident, smart, and loving guide dog and we are so excited for his future adventures with Leslie! ~ Meller Family 

Photos of the Team…