Wow, what a week we had with Waymo! My dad Sheldon and I, along with two other BVA Ambassadog teams, Donald (Teresa Galgano), and Kent (Robert Sanchas), BVA National Executive Director Donald Overton, and National Development Director Meredith Buono-Dagrossa were hosted by Waymo and their video production team in Phoenix, Arizona, during the week of June 3.

I had been waiting patiently for months to hail a ride in one of Waymo’s autonomous vehicles. My wish not only came true but exceeded all my expectations! Our team was also offered the opportunity to participate in a special video shoot focusing on the accessibility and life-changing technology that these vehicles will provide for our blinded veterans and their canine companions. 

As guide dogs, we work our paws off to provide opportunity, independence, and companionship to those we guide, many times in settings that are not accessible. A tear or two rolled down everyone’s cheeks as we climbed into a vehicle that welcomed all of us, realizing that this accessible technology now opens a new level of independence and dignified, nonjudgmental travel that we have yet to fully experience. The hope for our future that Waymo offers—where we can depend upon transportation that is safe, dependable, and accessible to all people with disabilities—inspires barks of approval throughout the guide dog universe.

Dad (Sheldon) has requested that I not share too much here since the video will tell the whole story when it is featured next month at the convention in Jacksonville. Suffice to say that special licks and kisses go out to Waymo’s Amanda Zink and her team for providing this special, unforgettable opportunity to us Ambassadogs and our blinded veterans.