[NAGDU] Seeing Eye

[Cindy Ray]

Lukas was my first instructor. I think Joan was my second. I hope I will see them if I get to go to class.

Cindy Lou Ray
Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 14, 2024, at 6:05 AM, Vanessa Lowery via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Joan retires at the end of this year, and even though Lucas has retired, he still hangs about there because he is married to a lot of the special projects having to do with traffic, intersections, and equipment for our dogs. Can't get rid of the man. I had Joan as my instructor in 2004 when I trained with my fifth dog, a male black lab named Griffin who was Hand picked for me by Pete Lang.
> 
> Vanessa and the zoo  
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Mar 14, 2024, at 2:49 AM, Suzette May via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi Everyone,
>> 
>> I went to The Seeing Eye in September/October of 2022 for my guide, a
>> large, long, male Sable German Shepherd named Boden.  I had Lukas Franck as
>> my instructor and Joan Markey was our class manager.  Anyone remember the
>> high school route? Well, Lukas was quite fond of that one and I think I did
>> that beast about 3 or 4 times. They haven't had that as a route for years
>> but we did it.  I think that thing was uphill both ways.  It sure felt like
>> it.
>> 
>> As far as retirements go,  I know Lukas retired at the end of September.
>> Lee Johnson retired earlier in 2023, I think. I was sad to hear Jeff
>> McMullen retired. Joan Markey started at The Seeing Eye within a few years
>> of Lukas so that might happen in a year or two.
>> 
>> Nice to see all the different schools on here.  It's interesting hearing
>> everyones stories.
>> 
>> *Suzette May*
>> *PS139.13 at gmail.com <PS139.13 at gmail.com>*
>> *512-564-0152*
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> On Wed, Mar 13, 2024 at 1:00 PM Julie A. Orozco via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hi everyone,
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Thank you for all the comments about Seeing Eye. It is great to know I will
>>> have an excellent class manager who will answer questions and listen to
>>> concerns. I'll tell a little more of my story below in case more
>>> reassurances are forth coming.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I retired my second dog in the fall of 2021 shortly before my daughter was
>>> born. I did not complete the application process for my third dog for a
>>> while after that because well, motherhood. So I haven't worked a dog in
>>> almost 2 and a half years, which is the longest I've gone without the
>>> harness in my hand since 2008. I only had to wait like 5 months between my
>>> first and second dogs.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> My life has changed completely in the last several years. I am a mom of a
>>> toddler now, and I feel like I need a unicorn of a dog. I live outside of
>>> Washington DC and take the metro a lot, walk a ton, and definitely deal
>>> with
>>> plenty of chaos and crowds. But I need a dog that will be gentle and
>>> forgiving of my toddler and tolerant of young children in general, since it
>>> looks like we'll be taking her to day care on a daily basis.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I am so nervous. Not only do I feel like I'm looking for a dog that might
>>> not exist, but I also fear a mismatch. I know everyone has them, but I
>>> haven't had one yet. My first two dogs were great matches, and my second
>>> dog
>>> in particular was an amazing worker and could pretty much read my mind. So,
>>> I'm not sure I can get that level of awesome in a dog again. The Seeing Eye
>>> is a new school for me, and although I've seen great dogs come out of
>>> there,
>>> I'm still nervous. I will be spending three weeks away from my family to do
>>> this, and I want that time to count.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> There is truly nothing like working a dog though. Even with the rideshare
>>> denials and the airline forms, I have to do it. I have to try and do my
>>> best
>>> to make it work. I do plan on asking lots of questions when I'm there, and
>>> I'm not shy. So hopefully that will help.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I'm so glad there are so many happy Seeing Eye graduates on this list.
>>> Hearing about your experiences is definitely helping. So thank you, and
>>> thanks for reading.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Julie
>>> 
>>> Julie A. Orozco J.D.
>>> 
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> 
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