“Over the past 33 years, I’ve had five great guide dogs. Meeting my new guide dog always makes me miss my old dog. I know it’s not fair to compare, but I can’t help it. Thankfully, the feeling only lasts about two weeks; then, the new dog’s personality lays claim and takes over my heart. I enjoy strong active dogs, and Lewis is no exception. The difference this time around is that he’s quite the clown. It’s not something that I’m used to, but it turns out having a super happy dog is just what I need. With all this self-isolating because of the pandemic, he’s been able to put a smile on my face all day, every day. He’s my best friend – and people love him! Having guide dogs by my side has helped me make many new friends over the years, but it's important people understand that guide dogs aren’t there for the entertainment of others – they have important jobs to do. It hasn’t happened lately, but I've encountered issues when trying to get into taxis when it’s raining. I always try to keep my dog dry, but taxi drivers don’t know that. I usually have someone open the back door to the taxi and signal me to come over. Before the driver knows what is happening, I’m in the car with Lewis. For some reason, drivers continue to argue with me when I get in the car, so I have to tell them there's legislation that protects guide dog teams from discrimination, and we can be anywhere the public is permitted. If a driver continues to complain about me and my guide dog, I tend to state my destination and disengage."