Graduate Team: Sue Ellen and Chula
About the Team: Chula, a female black Lab; Sue Ellen’s 5th Guiding Eyes dog
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Training: June 2025 Home Training
Sue Ellen is a loyal returning graduate of Guiding Eyes. As the recipient of her fifth Guiding Eyes guide dog, she explains that when she finds something she likes, she stays with it. Sue Ellen holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Salem State University in Massachusetts. Originally from Franklin, Massachusetts, she has moved all over the country with her guide dogs. She previously lived in Ohio, New Mexico, and Florida, and now resides in Kentucky, content to escape the harsh New England winters. Her vision loss is the result of Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), caused when her mother contracted German Measles during pregnancy. She retains only slight light perception in one eye. Sue Ellen currently works part-time as the second point of contact and assistance for arriving patrons at a local theater company. When not working, Sue Ellen likes watching crime dramas like NCIS, adventure gaming, and dice games on her phone. She’s also not one to refuse a bingo game given the opportunity. She enjoys visiting with friends, dining out, and taking walks in her neighborhood, as well.
How would you describe your guide dog? “Chula is still very much a puppy with lots of energy and always very playful when not working. She has a big personality, and she likes to be with me everywhere I go.
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “When I was looking for my first guide dog, I applied to another school, but they didn’t have a guide dog that could accommodate my disabilities. Guiding Eyes had guide dogs that could work with my gait issues, fine motor dysfunction, as well as my hearing loss.”
How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “Chula and my other guide dogs have given me great confidence when I am moving around. They have enabled me to walk straighter, not weaving as much as I did before I received my first guide dog. I know that I am not going to walk into obstacles with a dog, which is freeing.”
Were there any training highlights? “In the past, I had received my training on the Guiding Eyes campus. This time, I had Home Training with Specialized Training instructor Susan Kroha. She was awesome, and it was like going to school and working with a friend. A friend and Guiding Eyes graduate, Deb, who lives in my senior residence building, also received training with her new guide dog. The support we received was like my former on-campus experience, but with the pleasure of being able to sleep in my own bed. Training with another student benefited us both. We supported each other, which felt similar to being trained with other classmates on the Guiding Eyes campus.”
DOB: 1/3/2023
Litter ID: 4C23
Color/Breed: Black/Labrador Retriever
Gender: Female
Brood: Irie
Stud: Shadow
Littermates: Chesney, Cashew, Calypso, Clarence
Region: Adirondack
Regional Puppy Instructor: Kate Gardner
Puppy Raiser: Gary & Lorraine Schiavi
Facebook: Adirondack NY Puppy Raisers
Vaya con Dios, pretty girl! ~ Gary Schiavi
