A woman named Davida Luehrs has always enjoyed being physically active, and two of her favorite things to do were taking dancing lessons and going on hikes. She also became involved in many different activities.
Since being diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare inherited disorder that causes gradual vision loss, she has been an active member of the blind community. She joined the Reston Lions Club, became the Northern Virginia District Sight Chair, and was elected president of the Northern Virginia Chapter of the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
In recent years, Davida has observed a decline in her health. She saw that, while using a cane, she regularly veered off the sidewalk during her usual walks. Margins also appeared to be fading. She felt less safe, but instead of letting this dominate her, she chose to be proactive.
Davida flew to Smithtown, New York to see for herself the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind’s facilities. She quickly filed the necessary papers for her own guide dog following the tour. Within a few months, she was informed that a dog meeting her specifications had been found.
Davida first encountered Chubb, a two-year-old black Labrador, during the training orientation. There, they participated in a two-week training session alongside eight others. They left campus after the first week for personal training. This crucial part of the training was meant to enable the owner and his or her guide dog to adjust to normal daily activities.
Following the completion of the program, the duo returned home. And despite Davida was still adjusting to having Chubb around, she had little difficulty adjusting.
During their travels, she observed that canes pushed people away, whereas Chubb attracted them. She was even surprised by how many people wanted to pet Chubb.
She adored having him by her side during her numerous adventures. Chubb had provided her with security, restored her independence, and instilled in her a new feeling of self-assurance. She grew fearless in all situations after meeting Chubb.
Source: Fighting Blindness Foundation
