Client Story: Amy Ranzenberger

Amy and “Olive”

“I’m a lot more confident when I approach the world with a guide dog,” says artist and Fidelco client Amy Ranzenberger. “With my guide dog I feel safer and more secure.”

As a teenager and young adult, Amy recalls, “I was pretty much in denial about my visual impairment and tried to function as a sighted person, mostly to avoid being made fun of. I eventually realized I wasn’t helping myself trying to live that way.” Amy then made the decision to apply for a guide dog, seeking greater safety and self-confidence.

Amy knew she wanted a German Shepherd guide dog, as she’d grown up around German Shepherd Dogs as pets. She applied to Fidelco and was excited when her application was approved and she was partnered with her first guide dog, “Wicka.” Over the years, Amy has had three Fidelco guide dogs: “Wicka,” “Orvyn,” and “Olive,” and was recently partnered with her fourth Fidelco guide dog.

“My son was two years old when I received Olive. Olive has always been very good around him. She is sweet and gentle.” Amy’s household includes her husband, their 8-year-old son, a pet German Shepherd Dog, and two cats. “Everybody gets along,” Amy shares. “Olive is definitely a member of the family.”

Amy lives in a suburban area, with a city bus route at the end of her street. Amy and Olive take the bus into the city for errands and outings. “I get out with Olive as much as I can. She is such a great guide.” Amy’s interests center on the care of animals. “I try to rescue animals when I can. If my husband or I find a stray, we work hard to find its owner.” Amy’s love of animals also inspires her artwork: she entered and won an art contest by the Cleveland Sight Center (CSC). Her winning piece, North Star Night, was made into holiday greeting cards available from CSC. Proceeds from the cards support CSC programs and services for people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired.

Amy with her North Star Night original art

North Star Night shows three guide dogs in harness, including a German Shepherd in the middle, looking up at a bright North Star on a winter’s night. “I got the idea and inspiration of my North Star Night piece from my beloved guide dog, Olive. In a sense, she is my north star, helping to guide me to where I need to go. Without her, I would be lost.”

As with many of Amy’s art pieces, North Star Night was created on an 11 x 14″ illustration board. She began by drawing an original sketch with darker outlines and then used colored pencils to add color, depth, and dimension.

Amy says having a guide dog has enhanced her life, and through the recognition and celebration of her art, has brought renewed joy and meaning. “This has restored my confidence not only in my artistic abilities, but in life in general.”

Olive recently retired from guide dog work and is now a beloved pet with Amy and her family. In March, Fidelco placed a successor guide dog with Amy, and their early weeks of partnership are off to a great start. Amy says her experiences with Fidelco have made the transitions and placements with each of her guide dogs as smooth and supportive as possible.

“From client services staff to the trainers, everyone is professional and understanding. The placements and training I’ve received with each of my Fidelco guide dogs have all been amazing.”