Rebecca and Winslow

Meet Graduate Rebecca

Graduate Team: Rebecca and Winslow
About the team: Winslow – male black Lab; Becky’s 2nd Guiding Eyes dog
Location: Plainville, Connecticut
Training: September 2024 Home Training

Becky has retired from her career as a Certified Nursing Assistant. She is a member and the chapter secretary of the Central Connecticut Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind and participates in the Connecticut Guide Dog Division. Becky also serves as a trustee on the library board for the town of Plainville, CT, where she lives with her husband and new guide dog, Winslow. She is looking forward to taking Winslow on a trip to Maine next summer, where he will have the opportunity to explore many dog-friendly campsites! In her free time, Becky enjoys crafting, and during the holidays, she can often be found using her creativity to make angels and nutcrackers for her nieces and nephews. Becky also adds Braille labels to the gifts, displaying sentiments such as “Peace”, “Joy”, and “Love”, – all things Winslow surely adds to her day.

How would you describe your guide dog? “He has a lot of energy, and he loves to play in the backyard. His favorite toy is a softball, but he always wants to play tug of war! He is also very lovable and loves to give kisses. He sleeps in his crate in my bedroom, and I leave the door open during the day so he can go in there if he wants to. He follows me everywhere I go! He’s very friendly and loves to meet people, but not when he’s working. He’s very good and such a hard worker. He’s bigger and stronger than my last guide, Tatum, so I’ve been getting used to having a bigger dog. Everyone always tells me how handsome he is!”

What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “I had Tatum from Guiding Eyes, and she was my first guide dog. I applied to Guiding Eyes because I heard a lot of good things about the school. After I received Tatum, Guiding Eyes was very good about checking in. Kathy Rooney [remote instructor] would come out to see how we were doing and to see if there were any issues that she could help me work out. If I needed anything or if the dog needed anything, Guiding Eyes was always there to help out! When I had to retire Tatum, I knew I’d go back to Guiding Eyes because they were very supportive and would be there if needed.”

How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “It greatly impacted my life. It has made me feel more confident with travel! Before I had my first guide dog, I’d do cane travel outside, but I wouldn’t go very far. I’d do very short walks. Once I got Tatum, and now Winslow, I felt more confident and sure about going further, and I did bigger and longer routes. It gave me a lot more confidence, knowing that when I was out alone, my dog would be paying attention to the traffic. I can go out shopping at the mall and in stores too. They help me get to and from meetings in different places independently and navigate the library by myself.”

Were there any training highlights?  “During training, we celebrated when we completed a perfect route, which was fun! I’d pet him, and he’d wag his tail and get all excited! Another memory is how funny it was the first time she brought him over. She came into the house with him and showed him around. The first time I was able to let him off leash in the house for free time, he found his toy box within five seconds and had it emptied in no time. It didn’t take him long to find all the balls and bones! One day, we stopped at a donut shop, and we got a double chocolate donut with chocolate chips. Kathy and I split it and shared it. We were sitting there with Winslow below me, and he was enjoying the people coming and going.”

Meet Guide Dog Winslow

DOB:  8/20/2022
Litter ID: 1WW22
Color/Breed:  Black/Labrador Retriever
Gender: Male
Brood: Liza
Stud: Everett
Littermates: Whispy, Walter, Wind, Wyatt, Walden, William, Wendell, Wilbur, Waylee
Region:  Capital NY
Regional Puppy Instructor: Kate Gardner
Puppy Raiser:  Rileigh Laraby
Facebook: Capital Puppy Raisers

From the Puppy Raiser…

Winslow was my very first puppy for Guiding Eyes, and in one of the first groups to be raised on campus at SUNY Cobleskill. He changed my life in more ways than I can count, and I am so proud that he can change someone else’s! I cannot thank my family enough for encouraging me to apply, and helping me raise Winslow. I also have to thank the Monroe and Capital regions, specifically MeKalea, Marci, Kate, and Ann! Winslow would not be where he is today without all the help I received. ~ Rileigh Laraby

Photos of the Team…