“Could we build a strong and trusting bond? Would she be a safe and reliable guide? Would I be able to travel comfortably and confidently with her help? Even though Rhonda was going to be my second guide dog, that’s what I was thinking at the time. When we first met, I was overwhelmed with hopeful excitement. Instantly, I could tell that she was incredibly loving, and eager to do a good job. I was already used to the independence that a guide dog can provide, but the new and wonderful thing about Rhonda is how gentle she is. My first guide dog was a German Shepherd, and that breed is physically strong and very intense. As a result, my previous guide dog pulled hard into their harness. Over the years I had sustained a chronic neck and shoulder injury, leading to migraines. With Rhonda’s feather light touch, my injury has been able to heal. My migraines, neck and shoulder pain have almost disappeared. One of the remarkable things about Rhonda is how excellent she is at guiding me on hikes in the forest. Our family loves to hike. In the past, I would walk behind a family member that acted as a sighted guide. We would hold onto opposite ends of my white cane so I could follow them on the trail. They would call out rocks, roots or other tripping hazards as we walked through the trees. My German Shepherd was way too excited to be a reliable guide in the forest, but Rhonda, equipped with CNIB Guide Dogs' innovative harness, surpassed the guiding abilities of both my previous guide dog and my human guides. Silently and extremely attentively, Rhonda communicates the various types of terrain with her subtle body language. I can sense what type of obstacle lies ahead – whether it’s a narrow impasse or a rocky and rooted path – based on what her body is doing Rhonda does all of this in silence, allowing me to relax and enjoy the beautiful soundscape and smells of the forest, river and lake. Rhonda has completely transformed my experience of hiking, and my family appreciates not having to guide me, leaving them free to enjoy the hike more as well.” – Marie-Claire