Congratulation to Lauren Piperno, who is a newly-minted Guide Dog Mobility Instructor! Lauren recently completed the three-year GDB instructor apprenticeship, which requires a combination of hands-on experience, as well as a comprehensive course of academic study.
Lauren grew up on a farm in Harwinton, Connecticut, and her first experience with guide dog work was as puppy raiser for Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, located in Smithtown, New York. She attended the University of Miami, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in Spanish. She also has her Master of Arts degree in animal behavior and conservation from Hunter College, located in New York City.
Prior to working at GDB, Lauren completed an internship at the Beardsley Zoo in Connecticut. The only zoo in the state, it is committed to the preservation of endangered animals and develops strategies to protect species and preserve their wild habitats. She also worked with a program called TEACH Charlotte to obtain her Spanish teaching license.
In her current role, Lauren shares she “really enjoys the relationships I get to build with the dogs I train and the clients I work with in class.”
Lauren lives in Novato and in her free time she enjoys barre classes, attending plays and musicals in San Francisco, and spending time with her friends and her sphinx cat name Luna.
Well done Lauren!
