b"My mom wanted me to go so that shoppedatmalls,enjoyedparks,she could prove to me that a guide dined in restaurants, played in pools,dog would be too much work, said andeveninternedatSoutheasternValerie. Guide Dogs. Celeste concurred, I agreed to InFebruary2020,atage18,thecampbecauseIthoughtwe NolagraduatedfromGuideDogwould go, and she would see that big Class 287 with her new best friend,dogs are scary to be around. Brizzy.NolawasexcitedtofinishTheoppositehappened,and highschoolwithmoreindepend-Celeste saw how a guide dog could ence, but COVID-19 derailed thoseopenupawholenewworldfor plans,andshefinishedschoolValerie. The camp was literally life online. changing.Brizzy helped Nola navigate theIn June 2019, Cheryl and Nola pandemic as well, getting her out ofattended the second-ever Guide Dog the house; otherwise, she would haveCamp. Cheryl even wore a blindfold stayedinbedallday.Theysetaand walked with a guide dog in har- workingschedule,andwalkedtheness. Nola said Mom was so moved, neighborhood every day. she cried, now understanding why I Fast-forwardtoAugust2021,wanted a guide dog. whereNolaandBrizzynowfindthemselvesonthebusycampusofDogs of Their Own Georgia Tech, pursuing a degree in John Marazzi and Zeus of Brandon Honda.Both teens and their parents discov- architecture. Zeus was adopted from E.A.R.S.ered how life changing a guide dog Itsreallyfreeing,having E.A.R.S (Elizabeths Animal could be, and they applied for their Brizzy, Nola says. I dont have to Rescue & Sanctuary) is a small 501(c)(3) own. In August 2019, Valerie attend- explain myself to everybody that Im QRQ\x10SURW\x03VKHOWHU\x03LQ\x032GHVVD\x0f\x03)ORULGD\x11ed Guide Dog Class 281. Since she legallyblind.Imnotgettingcrazy :H\x03DUH\x03DOZD\\V\x03LQ\x03QHHG\x03RI\x03YROXQWHHUV\x0f\x03was only 15 years old and participat- weird looks when someone reads me GRQDWLRQV\x03DQG\x03VSRQVRUV\x11edintheadultclass,Celestecame a menu, and they dont ask if English Meet Two of Our Adorable Adoptables:along.Valeriewaspairedwithlov- ismysecondlanguage.Somanyable and playful Micky, whose infec- times, Ive wanted to quit architec-tious joy surrounds Valerie, whether ture,butBrizzyisalwaysthere,shes having a good day or not. reminding me that I can do it. ItsNow17,theinseparablepair like she knows whats going on, andshareeverything.Togetherthey've shes always there, cheering me on. UMaking a Difference for Kids and Teens Beau KayaSoutheastern Guide Dogs transforms lives by creating and nurturing 7R\x03LQTXLUH\x03DERXW\x03%HDX\x03RU\x03.D\\D\x0fextraordinary partnerships between people and dogs. Through their youth SOHDVH\x03FDOO\x03RU\x03HPDLO\x03(\x11$\x115\x116\x11programs, children and teens are finding brighter futures with the help of 813.355.6285|EarsRescue@gmail.comfour-legged superheroes. Youth guide dogs are placed with mature teensready to handle the responsibility, and Kids Companion dogs build a bridgebetween the child of today and the independent guide dog handler oftomorrow by teaching kids how to care for the dog. In addition to the programs for children and teens, Southeastern GuideDogs breeds, raises and trains elite working dogs for people with vision lossand veterans with disabilities. All of their serviceswhich include selectivebreeding and expert dog training, comprehensive on-campusstudent instruction, and the most robust alumni support program in NorthAmericaare provided at no cost to recipients.For more information, visitwww.GuideDogs.org.www.TheNewBarker.com THE NEW BARKER 19"