Guiding Eyes for the Blind

Pictured: view of a person from the knees down on the left, and a black lab on the right. The Human is wearing jeans and leather boots, and the hem of a grey coat is visible. The black lab stands wearing a leather harness and peering straight ahead. The human holds a leash that connects them both.

Photo by Katherine George 

April 11, 2008 - February 21, 2021

Creatures of all kinds, shapes and sizes, have this way of filling spaces in our hearts that we never knew we’re empty. And when the very sucky day comes that we realize that they too are not immortal… It hurts. How can so much love and selflessness fit into one 58 lb. black lab? The power of her caring heart, and the magic of her logic and problem solving skills made Alexa (fondly called Lexie) the best—yes, the BEST—guide dog.

From May 2010 until March 2016, Alexa and I were an unstoppable duo. A cane might be the preference for many of my blind friends, but having a sassy, keen, and loving dog help me navigate big cities, a small mountain college town, and all the spaces we lived and traveled in between was way better than my inanimate white cane. Since March of 2016, she has been enjoying retirement with my mom. She’s had such a safe and peaceful place to gracefully grow old. Her health has declined more quickly than expected since the beginning of 2021, and on Sunday, February 21, she passed away.

Alexa helped me find a confidence within that I thought I knew, but realized I was only scratching on the surface. She motivated me to move six hours away from my family to a town where I knew no one, and to pursue my bachelors degree, and eventually to make a home in Brooklyn. Alexa was part of everything that comes with college life, particularly for a music major; lectures, practice rooms, stages, parties, the library for hours, heart break, coffee shops, snow days, spring days on the quad, recording studios and computer labs, running errands, meeting new friends, boredom, finding a forever life [human] ] partner—

She was my closest friend and shared a language of love that no one else spoke. She was gentle yet spunky, regal yet so maternal. She was with me every step of the way through my cancer treatment, and remained by my side until her retirement in 2016. For the last five years she has become something of a guardian angel to my mom, and it has been so special to see how she’s found another human to nurture and watch over.

Lexie was a beautiful gift to me from Guiding Eyes for the Blind. They pair dogs with individuals who are blind or low vision completely free of charge. As a way to honor my darling Alexa, I am inviting friends, family, and anyone who was ever acquainted with her to donate to naming a puppy in her memory. I hope that another Alexa will reflect her spirit and show another person the remarkable love of a guide dog.

Any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about Guiding Eyes for the Blind: Guiding Eyes for the Blind provides guide dogs to people who are blind or low vision. We are passionate about connecting exceptional dogs with individuals for greater independence.