Graduate Team: Lindsay & Hooper
About the Team: Hooper, a male yellow Lab is Lindsay’s 2nd guide dog from Guiding Eyes
Hometown: Alpharetta, Georgia
Guide Dog Mobility Instructor: Kathryn Poallo
Lindsay is originally from Michigan. She graduated with high honors from Michigan State University with her guide dog Gretchen by her side. Shortly after Gretchen retired in 2005, Lindsay and her husband moved their family of four to the suburbs of Atlanta, GA. In addition to being a stay-at-home mom, Lindsay is an active volunteer in her community. In her free time, she enjoys reading, crafting, and writing.
How would you describe your guide dog? “Hooper is a mellow male yellow Labrador who takes things in stride. He is very intuitive and aware of his surroundings. He balances this serious side with an adorable goofy side that comes out once you get to know him. His guiding skills are solid, and I feel extremely safe in his capable paws.”
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “It was a no brainer! My first guide was from Guiding Eyes, and I knew when I was ready for a second guide dog, they would be my school of choice.”
How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “Being a guide dog handler is a huge part of why I am now living my best life. Traveling with Hooper provides me with remarkable fluidity of motion that is simply unachievable with a white cane. Furthermore, Hooper’s skilled guidance makes me a more confident and independent person.”
Were there any training highlights? “There were many highlights, but my favorite was the individualized attention each student received due to the small class size. This guidance was a critical piece in our success. The trainers did a superb job packing in all the experience and knowledge we needed to be solid teams. I particularly enjoyed working with my trainer in locations that resemble my home city. Overall, I felt just as prepared to return home with Hooper as I did when I got my first Guiding Eyes dog.”
Hooper is a big love bug. He enjoys being near people and is always willing to sit on your lap! Hooper would come stare at us as we were watching TV until someone sat on the floor so he could snuggle in. Hooper was challenged when we would visit the grocery store because he loved to see all the people. He would focus after a few minutes and get down to some good work. As we enjoy being outdoors, taking Hooper for walks in the woods was one of our favorite activities. We loved raising Hooper. His calm demeanor and lovable attitude made him a wonderful temporary addition to our family. We are blessed he is a part of lives. Enjoy and love each other.
Jessica Zweig and Peter Wrenn
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