Client Story: Todd Higgins and “Fergus”

Todd and “Fergus”

Connecticut native Todd Higgins has been part of the Fidelco family for over 40 years- he partnered with his first Fidelco guide dog, “Promise,” in 1984. Todd is now working with his fifth Fidelco guide dog, “Fergus,” and says it’s his love of German Shepherd Dogs and our In-Community Placement Model that have made him such a longtime Fidelco client.

After sustaining vision loss from a 1983 car accident, Todd received life-skills training at The Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton, MA, and vocational rehabilitation from CT’s Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB). While initially a white cane traveler, Todd’s BESB counselor suggested he consider contacting Fidelco about a guide dog partnership. Todd says that decision, which resulted in partnering with Promise, was pivotal. He shares, “That was the springboard for me to feel more confident and get my life back.” With Promise, Todd enrolled in a local community college and then at the University of Connecticut where he graduated in 1990.

In addition to Todd’s guide dog partnership, another partnership began at Fidelco: it was at a Fidelco bikeathon in the late 1980s while Todd rode a tandem bike that he met his wife, Maureen. She was a Fidelco Volunteer Puppy Raiser who raised two pups and spearheaded adding a bikeathon to Fidelco’s annual walkathon. The couple married in 1993.

After living in Connecticut for several years, Todd and Maureen moved to northern California in 2004 where Todd began work as an advocate at Disability Rights California in Sacramento, the largest disability rights organization in the country. The organization’s mission is to protect and advocate for the rights of California residents with disabilities. In the two years following the COVID-19 pandemic, Todd and Fergus traveled across the state coordinating Covid vaccine clinics for people with disabilities, especially for those who are homeless. Todd and Fergus continue to travel for work, with Todd managing a grant providing advocacy services for people with traumatic brain injuries, focusing on veterans and victims of domestic violence.

“I can’t imagine life without a guide dog, I appreciate the safety, security, and confidence I have when Fergus is with me.”

Todd says his placement with Fergus in 2019 took longer than the prior ones, but he benefited from the wait and was more mentally prepared to begin work with a new guide. From the get-go, Fergus was calm and very settled, making Todd immediately confident in Fergus’ abilities. When the Covid shutdown occurred and Fergus’ work routine was vastly altered because Todd was working from home, Todd ensured Fergus continued to receive the exercise and stimulation he needed. Once the shutdown was over, Todd says Fergus seamlessly got back to his work routine (two hours of travel each day, by bus and train) to get to Sacramento.

Higgins family pet, “Nollaig,” Todd and “Fergus”

Todd enjoys attending concerts and plays, dining out, and traveling across the country to visit family in Connecticut and elsewhere- always with Fergus by his side. He also loves to watch Fergus play in the back yard with their pet Newfoundland dog. Todd says that even at seven years old, Fergus still acts like a pup when the two dogs are playing. “I can’t imagine life without a guide dog,” says Todd. “I appreciate the safety, security, and confidence I have when Fergus is with me.”