Sara and Humor

Meet Graduate Sara

July On-Campus Training
Graduate Team: Sara and Humor
About the Team: Humor, a female yellow Lab, is Sara’s 6^th guide dog
Hometown:  Amherst, New York
Guide Dog Mobility Instructor: Michelle Tang  

Sara loves to help people, and one way she does so is by sewing pillows that she donates to her church, where she is an active member. She also enjoys making them as gifts for her friends and family around the holidays. She has many hobbies, such as exercising, riding her tandem bike, and playing games online. Some of her favorite games to play are Yahtzee, Monopoly, and Circles. Sara has two children and five grandchildren. In addition to Humor, she’s had her 11-and-a-half-year-old retired guide dog, Judy, for nine years.

How would you describe your guide dog? “She’s something else. She’s a very silly, lovable, affectionate dog. She’s very laid back, but she listens to her commands very well and understands them. She gets along with my retired dog, who really doesn’t want to be bothered because she’s old, but that’s all that really matters. They play in the yard together and run around. Humor likes to bark when she doesn’t have a toy in the yard and Judy does not like that. Humor has a lot of energy and Judy doesn’t.”

What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes?  “They treat me so well. They really work with you one on one, and every time I go there, I learn something new. There’s such a family environment and it’s very, very helpful, and they always find a way to help you. They’re very good people and I always look forward to going there. They have good food there, too.”

How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “I have more freedom having her. I hate going for walks with just my cane, so having a dog I can get to where I’ve got to go, on my own. It feels good to have the freedom to go anywhere, any time. I just love walking with my dog and I’m getting older, so I’m trying to keep up with the exercise. Having Humor gives me that freedom. I like the independence and the companionship. I don’t like using my cane because it takes forever.”

Were there any training highlights? “I think at Hudson Hills. We were walking in that area, and I thought it was a really different area to be in, walking up and down the hills. They have a restaurant there too that we went to one afternoon and I thought that was really nice. I had Shannon as a trainer for that day, and I learned a lot of different tips from her and Michelle. Whenever I go to the school, I always find new things. You learn different things in a different area. This time, I learned how to do the touch command, so the dog doesn’t get bored. There are a bunch of tips that helped a lot, like how to put on the gentle leader collar.”

Meet Guide Dog Humor

DOB: 12/11/2019
Tattoo ID:  6H419
Color/Breed: Yellow/Labrador
Gender: Female
Brood: Orchid
Stud: Glenn
Littermates: Hawk, Holiday, Horizon, Humphrey, Hamilton, Humble
Region:  Southern CT
Regional Manager: Maureen Hollis
Puppy Raiser:  Laura Buchanan
Facebook: Southern CT Puppy Raisers

Humor was a clever and fearless puppy with the most adorable forehead wrinkles I have ever seen. She was always up for an adventure and interested in everything. She was equally at home in the city and the country. Humor loved playing in the snow and playing with other GEB dogs. My favorite part of raising her was in the evenings when she would wait patiently until I sat on the floor and then she would come over and sit on my lap. She was so affectionate with me and my family. It was a real privilege to raise Humor, and I hope she and her match Sara have many wonderful years together! Thank you!

Laura Buchanan, Puppy Raiser

Enjoy photos of the team…