Graduate Team: Paul and Kazzy
About the Team: Kazzy, a female black & tan German Shepard, is Paul’s 1st guide dog
Hometown: Highland Park, New Jersey
Guide Dog Mobility Instructor: Caryn Fellows
Paul is a chef, recently taking part in a New York State Cooking and Catering program. He plans on putting his culinary skills to work by opening his own business and is currently writing a cookbook to share his knowledge. The cookbook is designed to teach others to cook, including those who are visually impaired. Paul enjoys helping and inspiring others, and cooks for about 20 people every day!
How would you describe your guide dog? “Kazzy is 2 years old and very sweet! She is ready and happy to work when she gets into her harness. She also enjoys sitting on my balcony and looks for a treat when I call her back inside. It is exhilarating to take her places like the bank and see how happy everyone is to see her.”
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “I wanted to be more independent and thought a guide dog would help me with that. Since I live in New Jersey, I like that Guiding Eyes is located nearby in New York, and I was impressed at how responsive the school was to my inquiry. I have a friend with a guide dog from Guiding Eyes, so that also helped me with my selection.”
How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “After just a few weeks, things are going very well. I already feel more confident and have a sense of freedom. It is so much easier for me to navigate through an area with a dog versus a cane. Recently, Kazzy saw a car backing out of a driveway. She put herself between me and the car, making me aware and keeping me safe. A guide dog is a big responsibility, but we have a mutual affection and need for each other.”
Were there any training highlights? “My trainer, Caryn, was very professional and I feel like she went above and beyond. She sought out the experiences I needed and showed me things about my area that I didn’t know about, like the proper places to cross the street. We even made a special trip to practice escalators! Kazzy was trained to walk past the park and not be distracted by the other dogs playing. Kazzy taught me things too, as she stopped at every driveway.”
Kazzy loved everyone! She especially loved the really young puppies brought into work sometimes, fostered by a coworker. Everyone she met loved her right away. We always said she had the temperament of a lab stuck in a shepherds body. We had her through the worst of Covid, but she was able to bounce back quickly once things started opening up, and she was a rockstar with my job change and coming with me to work. She loved to work! Everywhere we went with her was always enjoyable. Kazzy is a super cuddly sweet pup, she wants nothing more than to be close to the people she loves. Kazzy is also a foodie, and will always appreciate the occasional treat. She became more a part of our family than most of the dogs do (Covid allowed us to have her quite a bit longer). She was very trustworthy in the house and was a great puppy from the start. She loves dog beds! If you have a dog bed thats where she will be. Kazzy was more difficult than most to give back, she was just such a good dog. Kazzy also got her Canine Good Citizen while she was with me!
Hannah Ellis and Karen Hunyadi, Puppy Raisers of Kazzy