Taylor Franks & Taupe

By the time I was nine-or-ten-years-old, I’d already decided that I wanted a guide dog. Although I have some vision, I’ve been blind my entire life and even attended a school for the blind. I had a cane, which I hated, so, I began thinking about getting a guide dog. I knew how smoothly and easily people could move with a guide dog by 
their side and I wanted one of my own. We’ve been together a year and a half now and she is very important to me. I’m a small-town college girl from Louisiana. I don’t come from means so the fact that I could get a guide dog, free of charge, through the Guide Dog Foundation has meant the world to me. I know they could not do this without generous support from caring people like you. When I turned 18, during the pandemic, I began the process of applying for a guide dog. I explored many resources, but the Guide Dog Foundation stood out to me.

Everyone I spoke with there was so friendly and responsive. They were warm, nice people who clearly cared about matching me with a dog that was right for me. My application was accepted and when it came time for me to travel to the Guide Dog Foundation campus in New York to meet and train with my guide dog, I was so excited. I was also very busy. This was all happening during my first semester at LSU, during mid-terms. I’m in International Studies and my goal is to get into law school. I want to become an immigration lawyer. Taupe, though, was worth all the time and effort. We bonded immediately, and she is just right for me. Having a guide dog is a responsibility because they rely on you, just as you rely on them. I love her and would do anything for her. And she is the same way with me. In our class on campus at the Guide Dog Foundation, we were known as “The Petite Team” or “The Petite Ladies,”  because we are both rather small. On our first walk together, people commented on how we really seemed to know  each other. We are small but mighty.

One of the hardest lessons I had to learn during training was how dedicated Taupe is to me and to keeping me safe. I had a very scary experience prior to receiving my guide dog. A car had come close to hitting me and it was terrifying. Learning to trust that Taupe had the skills to guide me safely, even in potentially dangerous situations, allowed me to take a leap of faith. With help from my Guide Dog Mobility Instructors during training, I learned to trust Taupe, and I am confident that she will keep me safe.

My fiancé and I love to travel. Taupe makes that so much easier. Unfortunately, the only time she can’t join us is when we travel to my fiancé’s home country of Honduras, because of quarantine requirements. I miss her on those trips. Even though I have a busy life, with Taupe by my side I just feel so much more free. I think one of the reasons the Guide Dog Foundation is so successful in their placements is the people and the level of support they offer. The staff are wonderful and so were my classmates during the two-weeks training in New York. I still keep in touch with every one of them. I am very grateful for my wonderful girl Taupe and to all the terrific people who made our life together possible. 

Please keep supporting the Guide Dog Foundation. Your gifts are making an important difference in the lives of people who are blind or have low vision all over our country. Your help and concern are very important to us all. Thank you so much. Please continue your wonderful support.