Yoojin and Dennison

Meet Graduate Yoojin

Graduate Team: Yoojin and Dennison
About the Team: Dennison, a black male Lab, is Yoojin’s 1st guide dog
Location: East Amherst, New York
Training: August 2024 On-Campus

Yoojin was born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in Hong Kong. When she was fourteen years old, the family relocated to upstate New York. While in her twenties, she was diagnosed with glaucoma and deemed legally blind six years later. She currently has a usable amount of peripheral vision and non-usable central vision.  Yoojin earned an undergraduate degree in biology at New York University. She is currently attending the University of Buffalo and is pursuing a master’s degree in psychology and counseling. Her short-term goal is to work as a rehabilitation counselor in a university environment, supporting students in their journey to success. She currently balances her studies with a part-time role at the University’s accessibility resource office. Looking towards the future, Yoojin has aspirations of attending law school, specializing in legal advocacy. Her free time activities reflect her creative spirit, whether writing short stories or cooking a variety of cuisines. She enjoys unwinding by watching movies and reading audiobooks. Dennison is not only Yoojin’s first guide dog but also her first dog, as she never had the companionship of a family pet growing up.

How would you describe your guide dog?  “Dennison is a very big dog with a very big heart. When I first saw him, I thought he was a young bear cub. He has kind eyes, and he is very gentle.”

What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes?  “I looked into different programs, but I spoke to my Orientation & Mobility Instructor at the state’s Commission for the Blind, and she recommended Guiding Eyes. She felt they were a perfect match to my personal circumstances, and they had a field representative located an hour away in Rochester, New York.”

How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “My world and experiences are now in a completely different place. I can go out at night again and have the confidence of having a friend around at all hours. I have come to experience people reacting differently when they see a person with a dog. People are just kinder. Since receiving Dennison, people have stopped their cars and rolled down their windows to call out that my dog is remarkable and a beautiful boy.”

Were there any training highlights?  “I left the Guiding Eyes campus about two months ago. The support they provide continues beyond graduation. Their trainers were incredibly kind. Allie was my primary trainer, and I could not have been happier. They provided us with night training, so practicing was especially meaningful for me. Since 2018, I have never tried going outside at night by myself. Needless to say, my life has changed dramatically since. My class consisted of eight guide dog recipients. We all bonded well and met nightly for a hot chocolate and to discuss our experiences. We all became friends and still keep in touch.”

Meet Guide Dog Dennison

DOB:  9/10/2022
Litter ID: 2D322
Color/Breed:  Black/Labrador Retriever
Gender: Male
Brood: Quay
Stud: Denny
Littermates: Dash
Region:  Montgomery
Regional Puppy Instructor: Jeanyne Gembarski
Puppy Raiser:  Jean Silverman
Facebook: Montgomery Puppy Raisers

From the Puppy Raiser…

Dennison such a sweet puppy, he surprised everyone by growing into an extra large dog! Dennison enjoyed playing with my pet dogs and hiking with me in Rock Creek Park. Dennison has a silly side which he tended to reveal in class by flipping on his back with his paws in the air-everyone laughed even the instructors. My hope is that Dennison will be a wonderful guide dog for his graduate and together they will have many adventures. ~ Jean Silverman 

Photos of the Team…