[NAGDU] Seeing Eye

Thu Mar 14 18:04:13 UTC 2024

Hello,

Wow. Love it. In 1976 were they located at the same place? Was the bldg
laid out the same? Did you like having roommates? I think I would've loved
that part but I am chatty. I also love how they just seem to respect us as
independent blind people also. That is the vibe I atleast received. So
blessed I went and Jane was my instructor.
Jess

On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 11:57 AM Joy via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Hi Jessica,
>
> My first class was in 1976. I didn't meet Mr. Frank. I did meet Mr. Crocus
> and Mr. Debeta. Of course, I also got to know Mr. Gary Mattoon. Please
> forgive my spelling in the names. Mr. Mattoon trained my second dog Zenith
> but Lucas Franc trained Zenith and I together. Lucas used to call him
> Atoshi.
>
> Mr. Roger Taylor my first trainer with Vicki (my first Vicki) was a story
> teller. Since my dad was also a story teller I was right at home. He was
> also a practical joker. He once swopped the harness of a 1 hundred pound
> shepherd for a 40 pound shepherd during dinner. In those days, I can't
> remember if we still do this, we hung our dogs' harness on the back of our
> chair during dinner when we first started using them because they were
> stiff and hadn't yet gotten enough softening by the saddle soap. Anyway,
> the man who used the larger shepherd was a very tall man from Louisiana and
> he has the wonderful slow southern accent. The woman who had been matched
> with the smaller shepherd, and my roommate, was a smaller woman from
> Canada. When we got up to leave after dinner and began to put on our dogs'
> harnesses I can still hear Joe say "something sure is wrong here because
> there's no way this is gonna fit on my dog."
>
> In those days everyone was called by their last names. It was to maintain
> an atmosphere of respect.
>
> Once when I was walking down the street with Vicki a man came up to me and
> told me that he was with the police and  wondered if I had a license to
> operate my dog. I sputtered for a while and then asked "do you know Mr.
> Roger Taylor?". The man started laughing.
>
> There are some things which have changed and become more modern at The
> Seeing Eye, but, to me, the one thing that remains the same is the emphasis
> on quality of breeding and training of dogs. In my experience, if you come
> with an attitude that you want to learn how to work with your new partner
> and ask lots of questions you end up with a partner who will work with you
> for years. There are going to be some partnerships which don't work, but I
> believe that it is the minority of the partnership. Of course, that isn't
> much comfort if you are the one experiencing the issue at the time.
>
> Also, in 2005 I collapsed with a burst aneurism in my brain and was in
> intensive care for a month and then in rehab for another month before I
> came home. My husband called The Seeing Eye and got advice as to what to do
> to help Belle adjust to the new situation. The support was incredible.  I
> was not aware of anything for about a month but my husband had the support
> that he needed. Once I began to recover The Seeing Eye was there to support
> Belle and I as we began to work together again.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Jessica Sears via
> NAGDU
> Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2024 6:54 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users <
> nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Jessica Sears <jlsears86 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Seeing Eye
>
> I am so fascinated by old Seeing Eye stories we are sharing. I would love
> to hear more from people on how things really have changed from early 80's
> to now. I wonder if anyone is here that met the real Morris?
> Jess
>
> On Thu, Mar 14, 2024 at 12:49 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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