Graduate Team: Theresa and Nari
About the Team: Nari, a female German Shepherd is Theresa’s 1st guide dog
Hometown: Wilmington, North Carolina
Guide Dog Mobility Instructor: Nikki Wentz
Theresa is a retired home health hospice nurse. Her career included time on the Red Cross Board of Directors, trips to Africa working with the United Nations, and training others involved in search and rescue efforts. Although retired, Theresa is very active, serving as President of Hadassah and on the board of her local senior center, as well as the center’s Committee for the Visually Impaired and Disabled. As Vice President of the UJA, she is doing a historical project for the composers killed during the Holocaust, as well as addressing housing concerns for the visually impaired and disabled. Although a first-time guide dog user, Theresa has had a considerable amount of experience with animals over the years as an accomplished equestrian, and she currently has alpine goats that she shows on occasion.
How would you describe your guide dog? “Nari is very attentive. She’s always nearby in the house. She loves to shop with me and play ball with my husband. It is fun to watch her continue to develop skills, like a child learning new things.”
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “From my first contact with Guiding Eyes, everyone was very supportive and compassionate. I was treated as an individual with my own set of requirements and needs. As a result, Nari is the perfect dog for me.”
How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “I did not realize just how much I needed a guide dog until Nari arrived. She has completely transformed our family life. She is my eyes! I have more freedom. With Nari I can confidently cross the street and navigate curbs. She attends meetings and synagogue with me. Nari is very professional and settles well. She is such a wonderful fit! I hope I can do as much for her as she does for me and our family.”
Were there any training highlights? “During training, we visited the Cotton Exchange in Wilmington. Nari accurately navigated a busy and cluttered shopping area and patiently sat when we were out to lunch. We visited the WWII memorial and Nari even saw mounted police officers and their huge horses! She was very well disciplined and polite in a variety of situations.”
Nari was our seventh puppy raised for GEB; she was our first German Shepherd. We learned a lot about the breed and noticed more of the similarities than the differences. Nari was exceptionally calm and food motivated compared to other shepherds we had observed. She had an awesome recall from a great distance and off high level distractions. The challenges of the COVID 19 pandemic didn’t affect her skills or experiences much as she did a lot of socialization during 2019 and early 2020. Obviously didn’t socialize with other dogs in class, as much as normal, but we had a small “bubble” of close friends with dogs so she learned how to interact with other dogs well. Nari loved long walks in fields, woods and her suburban neighborhood. She enjoyed walking and playing in water, but actual swimming… not so much. Theresa you are the perfect person to have this perfect dog, enjoy! We will always keep Nari in our hearts and will look forward to as many updates as you are willing to post.
David and JoAnn Schindler, puppy raisers of Nari
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