Graduate Team: Patrick and Pippi
About the Team: Pippi, a female black Lab; Patrick’s 6th Guiding Eyes dog
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Training: November 2025 On-Campus
Patrick is a long-standing Guiding Eyes graduate who is now partnered with his sixth Guiding Eyes dog, Pippi. He was matched with his first guide dog, Hayes, a Labrador Retriever, fifty years ago in 1976. After earning his degree, Patrick had difficulty getting job interviews because of his blindness, so he began volunteering and created a support group for people with disabilities. Over the years, he held a number of positions in nonprofit organizations, including the Missouri State Agency, The Center for Blindness and Low Vision, The Coalition for Independence, and The Whole Person, a disability services and support organization. He ultimately returned to The Whole Person as their Senior Disability Rights Advocate in 2000. He retired in May of 2015 after 35 years of working in the field of Independent Living and Vocational Rehabilitation. Patrick and his wife, Jennifer, live in Kansas City, MO. He is the father of two daughters, and his family has grown to include five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Patrick loves walking for recreation and to stay active, and he especially enjoys spending time on the water, boating, and fishing. He hopes to do more of that with his family this summer, with Pippi joining in on the fun.
How would you describe your guide dog? “Pippi was 2 yrs old when I got her. There had been a 2 ½ year wait prior to getting Pippi. When Pippi is in harness, she is an excellent worker who understands my pace. She is the first female guide dog I’ve had. When she is out of harness, she wants to play, especially with her retired guide dog brother, Schubert.”
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “Pippi is my 6th guide dog. All my guide dogs were from Guiding Eyes. The staff is just so supportive and so helpful, especially during this most recent training when I was briefly hospitalized twice. I cannot say enough about the staff. My next guide dog (when I’m in my 90’s!) will be from Guiding Eyes. One of my guide dogs received a ‘Pet of the Year’ award in 1999. Ernie, my second guide, became an Eden dog after retirement, going to work with my spouse Jenny, a social worker at Shalom Geriatric Center. Ernie was a devoted volunteer, improving their quality of life for 2 ½ years. He crossed over the Rainbow Bridge at the age of 14 ½.”
How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “For the first 5 years after becoming blind, I used a cane and attended Longview Community College. I got my first guide dog in 1976, making this 50 years of working with guide dogs.”
Were there any training highlights? “As mentioned before, my most recent on-campus training included two hospitalizations, so the training itself was not 100%. With 50 years at this, I wasn’t too concerned. Again, the staff was just so supportive and could not have been more helpful.
DOB: 10/24/2023
Litter ID: 1P323
Color/Breed: Black/Labrador Retriever
Gender: Female
Brood: Ona
Stud: Nelson
Littermates: None
Region: Monroe
Regional Puppy Instructor: MeKalea Chambliss
Puppy Raiser: Sarah Wilkie
Facebook: Monroe Puppy Raisers
My favorite thing about Pippi is that she is always down for anything; whether it’s a trip to the grocery store or something more exciting. As Pippi got older and more confident, I didn’t go anywhere without her. When I finished graduate school, she came with me to commencement and sat through hours of the ceremony, and still went to a restaurant after and took a nap under the table. She’s always been the type of dog that’s just happy to be part of the ride. I’m so proud of her, and I’m so happy that she gets to be part of her partner’s journey. She’s a hard-working girl, and I know her partner will appreciate having her for all of life’s moments, just like I did. ~Sarah Wilkie
