Graduate Team: Oleta and Robbie
About the Team: Robbie, a female black lab; Oleta’s 1st Guiding Eyes dog
Location: Adrian, Texas
Training: April 2026 Home Training
Oleta lives in a rural West Texas town of fewer than 150 residents, just south of the Oklahoma Panhandle. It was there that she completed home training with her first Guiding Eyes guide dog, Robbie. Oleta has been a handler since 1993. She has been married to her husband, Ray, for 52 years, and she reports that they met on a “blind date.” They have five adopted children and 18 grandchildren. Both Oleta and Ray worked for 24 years as missionaries on a Navajo reservation in Utah, where she taught a free preschool program. Oleta has two sisters, including her twin; all three are blind from Retinitis Pigmentosa. Oleta herself has extremely limited vision. She gives back to her community through her involvement with fundraising for the volunteer fire department, including auctioning items, and she was featured on TV before the most recent auction.
How would you describe your guide dog? “Robbie has a wonderful personality. I’ve had her for seven weeks, and we are still teaching each other. She is very curious and will stare at something in her path. Robbie catches on in one visit to a location, whether it’s walking to the Post Office or our Wednesday visits to the coffee shop. She remembers exactly which table we sit at, as well as my seat. If it seems I start to stumble, Robbie stops, looks, and checks to see if there is anything in my path so she can steer me away from it. Robbie has met some local cats that are outside our house, and there is one, in particular, that is her pal.”
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “Guiding Eyes was recommended to me, and they offer far more training experiences than anywhere else. Mike was my trainer, and he was wonderful. On a recent trip to Maine, I was able to meet with Robbie’s raiser, who drove 1 ½ hours to visit.”
How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “I get out, going to the Post Office, and out for coffee. It gives me more independence. It just feels safer. If anyone opens a door nearby, Robbie gives a little ‘woof’ as a heads-up. I’m looking forward to our continued work together.”
Were there any training highlights? “Hearing stories about other blind people’s experiences was the biggest highlight. I learned so much from that.”
DOB: 10/13/2022
Litter ID: 1K322
Color/Breed: Black/Labrador Retriever
Gender: Female
Brood: Cammie
Stud: Denny
Littermates: Knight, Kelly
Region: Maine
Regional Puppy Instructor: Lisa Bumbalo
Puppy Raiser: Pat Webber, The Field Family
Facebook: Maine Puppy Raisers
Special Recognition: Robbie was special named by Pat Webber in memory of her brother. Pat also co-raised Robbie. She was gifted this special naming opportunity by her Puppy Raising regions upon her retirement from Guiding Eyes as a Regional Puppy Instructor.
Robbie was such a fun pup to raise and I was so delighted to co-raise her with the wonderful Field family. This provided her such a nice mix of a busy family with lots of kids and then here with me to do more with hikes, swims, walks and outings. She really is a super snuggler. I love her ability to just chill out at home but be ready for action at a moments notice. She loves to be out and about and part of whatever is going on. She is super curious and at times needs a moment to take in a new situation. She’s an amazing dog and she was a big hit in the middle school I often subbed at as well as at the care center she visited quite often. I am so proud of this pup and so happy she is on her way to find new adventures. ~ Pat Webber and Bryan Field and family
