Dustin and Queen

Meet Graduate Dustin

Graduate Team: Dustin and Queen
About the Team: Queen: female yellow Lab; Dustin’s 2^nd Guiding Eyes dog
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Training: January 2025 On-Campus

Dustin has been legally blind since birth due to congenital glaucoma. He completed two years of college earning a general education degree. He worked for seven years as a customer care supervisor in the travel and hospitality industry. His past work experiences also include factory and grocery work. Although currently unemployed, Dustin’s employment goal is to work for an organization that assists individuals with visual impairments. Dustin enjoys several hobbies and interests, including walking outdoors with his guide dog, playing video games, and listening to music. He considers these activities to be some of his greatest sources of joy in life. Dustin loves hard rock and rock and roll bands, particularly the music of AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne, and Metallica. In a clever twist of fate, he received his second guide dog from Guiding Eyes, Queen, a name that brings to mind another legendary rock group.

How would you describe your guide dog? “Queen is very sweet, affectionate and she loves to cuddle. When she is working, she is professional and focused. It’s as if even her tail signals those around her to leave her alone and let her work.”

What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes?  “Three other people working with me at my factory job had guide dogs from Guiding Eyes. For some of them, it was a second or third guide dog. They all readily recommended Guiding Eyes.”                                                               

How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “These guide dogs are absolute life changers. They are tremendous helpers as well as companions, and they become dear to your heart. After a while, they learn your behaviors and daily patterns. Everyone who has met my guide dogs is amazed as to how well they are trained.”

Were there any training highlights? “Michelle T. had been my trainer when I received my first guide dog, Vincent. She recognized me, all these years later, which started my latest round of training off to a good start. It was great to see her as she had been instrumental in my life, helping to get me out of a gloomy time for me. She believed in me and convinced me that I could do more, which enabled me to feel much better. The school itself and rooms have been nicely maintained since my first guide dog experience back in 2017. The food was terrific then, and the food continues to be amazing. Chef Rob is an amazing chef and a great personality. Before my arrival, I received calls from a number of the Guiding Eyes staff, including Chef Rob, to ask if I had any special dietary needs and food preferences. The training I received with Queen included bus and train travel skills, as well as training in a local Walmart so that Queen and I would be ready to take on Omaha when we got back home.”

Meet Guide Dog Queen

DOB:  11/10/2022
Litter ID: 3Q322
Color/Breed:  Yellow/Labrador
Gender: Female
Brood: Hetty
Stud: Edgar
Littermates: Quantas, Quiche, Quebec, Quartet, Quincy
Region:  Richmond
Regional Puppy Instructor: Madeline Bruggeman
Puppy Raiser:  Hongrui Yingying Liu, Eva Klenner & Logan Shelman
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GEBRichmond/

From the Puppy Raiser…

Queen truly is a queen! She knows what she wants and she is going for it. She is a great companion and awesome snuggle bug, smart and beautiful. Queen is the whole package! ~ Eva Klenner

Photos of the Team…