Client Corner: Betty Nobel Talks with Richard Faubion

Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) Client Betty Nobel recently spoke with fellow Alum Richard Faubion to hear how his guide dogs have given him enhanced confidence and immense appreciation for GDB's supportive community. Betty’s story is part of our Client Corner series, where clients interview one another about their lived experiences.  

The Powerful Partnership of a Guide Dog and the GDB Community
By GDB client Betty Nobel

Richard Faubion calls Littleton, Colorado home, where he shares his life with his wife Claudia and his guide dog, Lute, an 8 ½ year-old black Lab. Before moving to Littleton, Richard lived in downtown Denver near a beautiful lake. It was there, alongside Lute, that he first discovered the true bond between a guide dog and their handler—on countless walks, through sunlit mornings and rainy afternoons. Lute, with his unwavering focus, was not just a guide but a partner, one who would always lead Richard safely, whether navigating bustling streets or quiet lakeside trails. It was an ability that went beyond the practical: Lute had an uncanny gift for tuning out distractions, from the chatter of pedestrians to the sudden dash of a coyote across their path. But Richard’s admiration for his guide runs deeper than that—Lute was also extraordinary at reading situations, guiding Richard through crowded airports, bustling with noise and motion, with an air of calm determination. 

Richard lost his vision in his early forties due to X-linked Retinitis Pigmentosa and used a white cane for 18 years. As a Senior Gift Officer for the Foundation Fighting Blindness, part of Richard’s job was developing chapter members in Utah. Then fate intervened when he met a GDB employee and guide dog user. “I had her speak to the chapter members about why it was a good idea to have a guide dog,” recalls Richard. She also spoke about how guide dogs are trained to use intelligent disobedience, meaning they would disobey a verbal cue when it’s not safe to move forward. Richard was intrigued. 

Shortly after her talk, an incident occurred that solidified Richard’s decision to pursue the guide dog lifestyle. While walking to work, a car turned into Richard when he was in a crosswalk, breaking his cane in two. “Fortunately, the car just missed me, but that was the deciding factor for me,” explains Richard. 

Lute is Richard’s third guide dog. When he first arrived at Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) in 2006, he had no idea just how transformative the experience would be, particularly when traveling at night when his residual vision was more impacted. “That’s when I really felt what it was like to totally trust my guide dog,” recalls Richard. “I could feel Lute weaving around obstacles, dodging people, moving with purpose, and providing me a sense of freedom I hadn’t felt in years.”

That profound shift in his perception of independence has shaped Richard’s life ever since. Traveling the country, speaking with donors and supporters, Richard no longer felt like he was walking through the world alone. The social interactions that came with having Lute by his side were countless—from fellow travelers eager to learn about the special bond between man and guide dog, to pet lovers who missed their own furry friends and longed for a connection. “Having a guide dog affords me with more social interactions and interesting conversations.”  

In 2009, recognizing the power of community, Richard founded the GDB Colorado alumni chapter, later renamed the Rocky Rovers. Serving as president for seven of those 15 years, he has seen firsthand the way the guide dog community comes together to share knowledge, support, and encouragement. It’s this community, Richard believes, that has allowed him to continue thriving, both personally and professionally. “The advice, the stories, the shared experiences—it’s invaluable,” he says. “Being part of this network of graduates, I’ve learned that we’re never alone in this journey.”

Throughout his nearly two decades with the Foundation Fighting Blindness, Richard has seen how much impact one person can have on a community, helping raise funds, increase awareness, and lead programs that empower people with vision loss. And with Lute by his side, his journey—though never without challenges—has been one of increased confidence and fulfillment. A partnership that empowers both of them to face whatever comes next with confidence and grace. Together, they are unstoppable!

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