Graduate Team: Olivia and Omari
About the Team: Omari – a black female lab; Olivia’s 1st guide dog
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Training: October 2025 On-Campus
Olivia recently graduated from Missouri State University with dual bachelor’s degrees in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing. After graduation, she moved to Kansas City, where she hopes to find a full-time position. Olivia is exploring social media, and she and Omari have their own Instagram and TikTok accounts (@omarixolivia). Olivia especially loves live concerts and was recently delighted to attend a show by Canadian singer Tate McRae. She enjoys socializing with friends and is looking forward to the holiday season and future adventures with Omari by her side.
How would you describe your guide dog? “Omari is so smart and very sweet. She loves everyone. She is very serious about her work, but when she is off duty, she is a normal dog happy to play and hang out. As soon as I remove the harness, she goes crazy. It’s like she is so proud of the work she has done and wags her tail and runs looking for toys to play with. My roommates have two kittens who can get into mischief. If they are being naughty and she hears me call their names, she will move them out of my room. I say she is on Paw Patrol. Omari is a good sport, and she is fun to dress up. She has lots of fun bandanas, and she chooses which one to wear. For Halloween, I dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood, and she was the Big Bad Wolf, but she wasn’t so happy about wearing the ears.”
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “I have been legally blind since birth, but never enjoyed using a cane. I found myself wanting to use a sighted person to help me navigate. I craved independence and have always loved animals, so from a very young age, I knew I wanted a guide dog. A family friend recommended Guiding Eyes. I was told they have good services for graduates.”
How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “With Omari, I’m so much more confident to do things alone. Previously, I would choose to stay home until I had another person to accompany me. Now, even at night when I have zero vision, I feel confident and safe to go by myself. I never feel like I’m alone. Recently, I went to a dinner with my friends and parents. In the past, with that many people around, I would have asked one of them to help guide me. Instead, I took Omari, and she and I led the pack. It was perfect, I felt so free. There is no way I could have done that by myself. I’ve noticed when I walk with Omari, people move out of my way, they hold doors open for me, and always comment on how cute she is. My life is so much easier.”
Were there any training highlights? “It was such a great experience. Every person I encountered at the school was so nice and welcoming. It really allowed you to get comfortable for the two weeks. As for training-specific highlights, two things come to mind immediately. We went to White Plains, which is a lot busier than the area around campus. I was walking with Omari in harness and realized that instead of watching the ground to avoid tripping, I was able to notice stores and everything around me. It was such a different experience, and I could already tell she was going to make such a difference in my life. The other training highlight happened one evening in our room. I was carrying her treats in a pouch that had a magnetic closure. I had forgotten to close the magnet, and when I bent down to take off her leash, I bumped into the door, and the treats flew everywhere. Omari did not even flinch. She continued to look at me. It took me a while to find and pick them all up, but she did not even try to steal one. I was so impressed!”
DOB: 10/24/2023
Litter ID: 4O323
Color/Breed: Black/Labrador Retriever
Gender: Female
Brood: Blondie
Stud: Archie
Littermates: Oslo, Octavia, Orpheus, Osborne, Oshie
Region: Bay
Regional Puppy Instructor: Cindy Tait
Puppy Raiser: Abigail Rose Wehrle & Family
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GuidingEyesBayRegion/
Darling Omari was an enthusiastic puppy who couldn’t wait to explore this busy world and meet everyone in it; so we brought her everywhere from the White House to meeting Santa; to the Baltimore Zoo to the USNA parades and football games. She loved playing dress up all year round and running in new fallen snow. She has a generous heart and we believe she will be loyal, faithful, and reliable: the best friend anyone could ask for. ~ Abigail Rose Wehrle
