Guide Dog Tales - Stories by Pat Leahy

Pat, wearing a red and white checkered tie, sits with Galahad at the Guiding Eyes' graduation in front of an ocean blue backdrop.

Welcome to Our Blog

Hey there! My name is Pat. I’m blind and rely on guide dogs to get around the city of Washington D.C. Over the past year, I decided to start writing about these amazing animals, beginning with my most recent guides, Galahad and Hogan. With the help of friends, I launched guidedogtales.org to share my stories and blog about some of the pawsitive encounters you have when accompanied by a dog 24/7. ...

My dogs are some of my best friends, but they also help me navigate everyday life. For years, they’ve gotten me to work on Capitol Hill and around the city. Along the way, they slept through important congressional meetings, skillfully handled the Metro (though sometimes butting in line at the escalator), and even shook paws with the president. After work hours, they introduced me to new human friends, backed me up on the comedy stage, and, in so many other ways, help make every day awesome. They assist me with life’s hurdles and the challenges of being blind.

The pandemic has been tough for working dogs across the U.S., with their mission of navigating daily commutes and social interactions interrupted for the past 18 months. But for many of us, our dogs, whether service animal or family pet, have helped us get through this quarantine. With their quiet understanding and natural empathy, every pup brightens the spirits of those around them. And while they don’t mutt-er a word, they do seem to speak in their own way.

So, let’s tell some tales about our furry friends. Hogan intends to frequently chime in with his guide dog observations. We’ll also celebrate Galahad’s amazing life and tell some funny stories about Nina and Pepe, guide dogs during my college years and early days on the Hill.

I’d like to extend a huge thank you to Guiding Eyes for the Blind, who provided all four of my wonderful guide dogs. Throughout many years of being led by my guides, I’ve seen firsthand just how dedicated the Guiding Eyes community is and how tirelessly they work to foster independence for the blind. From puppy raisers to dog trainers, their love and expertise make this all possible.

I also want to send out a big thank you to Elspeth Callahan and Greg Rogers for their invaluable contributions to the blog. I really appreciate you working with me on this project.

Hogan and I are looking forward to sharing. We hope you find these stories puplifting and have a good laugh along the way. Thanks fur reading!

Current Blog Post

Some Dogs Learn New Tricks – Even After They Graduate

The shot is from stage left with Pat at the podium and guide dog Hogan attentively looking out at the crowd. Hogan is a yellow lab with an athletic build. Several people, wearing black gowns and caps and smiling, are seated behind Pat on stage. A portion of the crowd can be seen to the far left.

A memorable commencement with Millersville friends. Hogan is like, “I remember when I graduated guide dog school too.”

Hey all, we hope everyone is having a great summer and prepping for some cool puptastic autumn weather. Hogan and I have been staying busy. We’re continuing to share our comedy sets at open mics around town and have also gotten back into some public speaking engagements.

Most recently, I was invited to deliver remarks to the class of 2023 at Millersville University, my alma mater. I always imagined it would be rewarding to speak at commencement one day and greatly appreciate MU President Daniel Wubah’s efforts and others at the University in making that dream come true this May.

The prepared remarks are below, and you can view the address on YouTube here. It was a great day for an amazing university and a really accomplished group of graduates. I was honored to be a part of the celebration.

In preparation for commencement, I also learned a lot about a new method for those with disabilities to effectively deliver public speeches. I guess you’re never too old to learn new tricks... [continued]

Two handsome yellow labs wait for dinner: Galahad gives Hogan a sniff in Pat's kitchen. Photo by Pat with assistance from AIRA, a company that provides access to visual information.

With a quick pace and a long stride, Hogan guides Pat over the Hudson River. The Allegheny mountains are in the background.

Galahad and Hogan, two good looking yellow labs, relaxing on the carpet in Pat's living room on Capitol Hill.

Click on any of the images to see the full sized versions.

Other Blog Posts

Hotdog at the Metro – Hogan’s Guide Dog Adventures

A woofing fall greeting to our GuideDogTales readers. Thanks fur dropping by and checking out the latest. We hope you had a fun-filled summer and are ready for some great autumn activities.

Hogan and I are staying busy in the cooler temps. We’ve been heading back into the office and, during our free time, keeping up with some comedy performances. Hogan’s happy to be navigating the streets and the Metro again – he’s got that working-pup bounce back in his step, that extra wag in his tail.

I’ve continued doing stand-up at open mics and have added some new bits on guide dogs to my routine. As I mentioned in my last post... [continued]

Pat and Hogan Return to Comedy

Welcome back to Guide Dog Tales, where we are always pupped-up for good stories about fun times with our furry pals. Thanks for checking in with us during these pleasant spring days. It’s a lovely time of year, and we’re looking forward to shedding our winter coats and adding more stories to the blog.

I wanted our next entry to showcase my interest in comedy and explain how Hogan helps on stage. I’ve gotten a bit rusty over the pandemic, but Hogan and I are starting to get back into the swing of performing. “About time,” says Hogan.

Over the past few months, I’ve enrolled in two classes at the DC Improv Comedy Club. It’s a great way to get back into comedy – the atmosphere is always welcoming... [continued]

More Than Meets the Eye – Kids, Cameras, and Questions about Guide Dogs

Thanks for stopping in to sniff out our second blog post. Hogan and I are getting ready to send a few more tales your way.

In my blog bio, I mentioned that kids often have some of the best questions about guide dogs. Just a few days after posting that, I ran into a group of young students who were super interested in Hogan and wanted to know every single detail about how he helps me.

It was late October, and Hogan was leading me on our daily Capitol Hill walk. Since we’re teleworking these days, Hogan needs frequent walks around the neighborhood to get some exercise and brush up on his guide dog skills... [continued]