Chuck and Yolanda

Meet Graduate Chuck

Graduate Team:  Chuck and Yolanda
About the Team: Yolanda: a yellow female Lab; Chuck’s 1st Guiding Eyes dog
Location:  Louisville, Kentucky
Training:  February 2025 On-Campus

Chuck is a pharmacy technician at Chewy, a pet product retailer and pharmacy. He is currently pursuing his cybersecurity certification through CompTIA via online training. He also has a leather goods business on the side called Simple Little Goods. Chuck lives in a suburban area of Louisville, Kentucky, only a few hours from Owensboro, where his parents and younger siblings reside. He enjoys walking to locations near his home; however, for trips to stores and other places, he relies on Paratransit, buses, and Uber due to the limited sidewalks. Chuck is an active person who enjoys a variety of activities for fun, including ballroom and Latin dancing, martial arts, Judo, rock climbing, cooking, and taking walks with Yolanda on trails.

How would you describe your guide dog?  “Yolanda is well-behaved when the harness is on and is full of energy when it is off.  She is very good at following commands. In our area, there are some crosswalks, and some of the lights are equipped with an Audible Pedestrian Warning System, which is very helpful. In areas without sidewalks, she is good about pulling me to the grass when a car is coming.”

What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes?  “I had read about Guiding Eyes, and my O&M instructor helped me apply when I was a junior in high school, but at the time, they felt I wasn’t ready. I went on to receive my first two dogs from another school. I contacted Guiding Eyes last year, and this February, they said they had a dog for me. The timing was just right for Yolanda and me.”

How has a guide dog impacted your life? “Having a guide dog makes it feel like the world is truly your oyster. You can absolutely travel with a cane, but your confidence seems better when you have a dog. You know you have someone who can see, making sure you get around. Also, when crossing roads or in the mall, it is much easier to get around, as the dog helps you keep going in a straight line. When you have a guide dog, people you meet are more likely to perceive you as a thriving independent person, which makes socializing more pleasant. Yolanda is a wonderful companion in our apartment or when walking in the neighborhood. ”

Were there any training highlights?  “A few days after arriving, I was coming down with the flu. Dan, my trainer at the school, was great, and he did a good job of hitting on important points. We practiced what I would encounter at home, like walking on sidewalks, and shorelining, in other words, walking in areas where there are no sidewalks. Our group took a train to a small town to work in a different area, and we also went for lunch one day in an Italian restaurant, where Yolanda rested quietly under my chair. Although the training period is only two weeks, there were only 6 students, and we had more time with our dogs. Each instructor had only 2 students, so personalized training was available. It takes time to know your dog, for your dog to know you, and for your dog to learn the new place it’s calling home. Dan urged me to reach out if I needed to when I got back to Kentucky. Remote instructor Melinda visited to review training points, and we practiced traffic checks. Guiding Eyes has some fundamental differences, but much of the handling was second nature. It all went well.”

Meet Guide Dog Yolanda

DOB:  4/13/2022
Litter ID: 3Y22
Color/Breed:  Yellow/Labrador
Gender: Female
Brood: Janet
Stud: Garcia
Littermates: Yeti, Yogi, Yaeger, Yoyo, Yvonne, Yvetta
Region:  Eastern MA
Regional Puppy Instructor: Lisa Bumbalo
Puppy Raiser:  Lisa Bumbalo & Family , The Mandigers Family
Facebook: Eastern Mass Puppy Raisers

From the Puppy Raiser…

Yolanda is a little girl with a big personality. She is super smart and loves learning. A favorite game for her is targeting a bell. She would come from anywhere in the house if she heard that bell! She’s always up for a new adventure and loves exploring new places with her favorite humans. I can’t wait to watch this team take on the world! Congratulations Yolanda! ~ Lisa Bumbalo 

Yolanda has girl power, she amazed us with her never lasting energy to learn, work and go on outings. She keeps going and is eager to make you happy. She rode the Boston Subway like a pro and walked busy Boston many times. Raising a puppy is not always easy, but the rewards come in many ways; helping vision impaired persons, the amazing GEB raisers/volunteers/staff family, being part of the puppy’s journey and having this bundle of joy in your home. ~Jolanda Mandigers 

Photos of the Team…