animal lover's profile

Sights Set High

By Nancy Dewar

Randy & Autumn

Not many people can claim to have climbed all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4,000-foot peaks, not to mention climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and hiking the Andes. Nor have many of us run 17 marathons including the Boston Marathon six times. This is just a smattering of the incredible accomplishments by New Hampshire native Randy Pierce of Nashua. Yet what makes this even more remarkable is that Randy has done all of this after losing all of his eyesight with the help of his three very loyal 4-legged companions -- guide dogs Ostend (a golden retriever), Quinn (a yellow lab) and Autumn (a black and tan Labrador retriever)—along with his wife Tracy and large network of true friends.

A neurological disorder took Randy’s eyesight in 1989 shortly after graduating from UNH with an Electrical Engineering degree and while starting his career at Digital Equipment Corporation. Although legally blind, he still retained about half of his sight in his left eye. Shortly thereafter he got a rescue dog named Modi, which was the beginning of a 9-year mutual love affair. Upon losing his special boy, Randy applied for his first guide dog, and incredible Ostend entered his life at a very life changing point. While training together in Oregon, the last of Randy’s eyesight disappeared. Ostend, automatically sensing something powerful was happening, placed his head on his Dad’s lap; and that is the last vision Randy was blessed with.

During their six years together, Ostend and Randy had more great adventures than most of us can imagine. As a lifelong Patriot’s fan, Randy introduced his boy to football; and Ostend was the first service dog ever to attend a game at Gillette Stadium. He was also the first dog to attend a Super Bowl when the Pats beat St. Louis in 2002. This victory led to an invitation to the White House to celebrate, and Ostend made sure his Dad was well taken care of. He led Randy to the front of the line in the Rose Garden where he unexpectedly was greeted by Tom Brady Sr.

and then No. 12 stopped by! All of this after an appearance on the Rosie O’Donnell show the week prior.

Ostend and Randy also faced challenges. Randy became confined to a wheelchair in 2004 as a result of his neurological disorder, and Ostend was essentially retired. Randy wistful-

ly explained, “There wasn’t much for Ostend to do anymore. I had retired him as I was told I’d never walk again. And then one day he collapsed. I rushed him to the vet with friends, and he didn’t make it.” Though crushed beyond words, Randy didn’t give up. After six surgical procedures and intensive physical therapy, Randy learned to walk again. After the third procedure he could walk with lofstrand crutches. By the fifth he was using a quad cane, and after the last his therapist handed him a hiking stick; with neither ever imagining where this hiking stick would lead.

Enter Quinn, a.k.a. the Mighty Quinn, who joined his life in 2006. Randy began to think about hiking again and had the perfect partner with Quinn, who he describes as “the adventure dog, very competitive and loved the woods and trails.” Their hiking gained momentum in 2010 with the launch of Randy’s nonprofit 2020 Vision Quest whose mission is to inspire people to reach beyond adversity and achieve their highest goals through education, speaking engagements and fundraising to support training of guide dogs and providing needed services for the blind. To lead by example, Randy decided to hike all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4,000 peaks; and in 37 months Quinn and Randy had hiked all…twice! Quinn was also Randy’s co-star (or vice versa!) in the 2012 documentary “Four More Feet” that chronicles their quest (available on Amazon).

Randy with Guides

Randy, Autumn & Tracy on Belknap Mt.

2010 included another magical turning point. Randy married his beautiful wife Tracy on 10/10/2010. They met through mutual friends who suggested they drive together to attend an annual medieval recreation camping event. Tracy laughed when she told me, “Our first meeting was a 13-hour drive together in my Mini Cooper with a 6’ 4” guy and his guide dog!” The family of three had four wonderful years together until Mighty Quinn sadly succumbed to cancer in 2014. While still grieving, Tracy and Randy welcomed Autumn into their lives.

Though different than competitive Quinn—Autumn was very sensitive—she too loved the woods and hiking. Her second favorite thing was attending speaking engagements. She knew how to work the crowd! And she was a loyal worker with her Dad for seven wonderful years. “Dogs retire when they choose to,” Randy said. “You can tell when they are done by their mannerisms. If they stop being excited when you bring out their harness, that’s a sure sign.” When Autumn lost interest last summer, Randy put in an application for a new guide dog. It was time for her to simply be a family dog. Sadly, she too was diagnosed with cancer, and Tracy and Randy let Autumn go—after lots of loving and snuggling— last September.

Placement for guide dogs has been on hold due to COVID. But that didn’t stop the Pierce’s from getting a new pup. They adopted an adorable brown puppy fresh from Arkansas from

Randy & Quinn

the Humane Society of Greater Nashua last fall, and “Nama” (short for Namaste) celebrated her one-year birthday with her adoring parents in March. Randy is still waiting for his new guide dog from Guide Dogs for the Blind, who is working with current CDC guidelines to figure out how to bring a dog to Randy…or bring Randy to his new dog. “I’m a tough match as I walk fast and need one that can keep up. Also, I interact with large groups of people, hike in the woods and climb mountains. It has to be a special one.”

Service dogs arrive with a standard vocabulary that expands to meet the duo’s needs. Randy said, “Quinn knew over 200 words. Autumn knew the difference between a podium and a lectern! Find, follow and chair are common words.” Randy says “hop up” to get moving or to get moving faster. If his dog stops, but he doesn’t know why, that’s called “intelligent disobedience.” He explained, “With a cane, one touches obstacles. With guide dogs, they avoid obstacles. So, if they stop that’s a signal there’s an unavoidable obstacle.” To release his buddy from working, he says “off duty.” Then people can pet and interact with them. When it’s time to get back to work, “focus” is the word. As dogs are working when in their harness, it’s important not to touch them without permission. Their focus is on their work and human.

Randy is truly one of the most positive individuals I’ve ever met, which is why he is such an inspiring speaker to businesses (such as Microsoft, Google, Johnson & Johnson) and students. He’s presented to over 100,000 kids K-12. I asked how he stays so positive. “Oh, I have bad days just like everyone. When Ostend died, I was pissed; thinking how much more can I handle. But there’s a Nelson Mandela quote that is so true. It kind of goes ‘Don’t judge by how many times one falls, but by how many times one gets up again.’ I love coffee, and if I wake up feeling down, maybe I’ll just make myself a special cup with the French press. Also, tell people what you need. I used to be fiercely independent. When you let someone help you, you make them happy too.”

While waiting for his new partner to arrive, there’s no grass growing under Randy’s feet. He’s running a half marathon nearly every day on his treadmill. He’s launched his new “Words for Wednesday” videos on his YouTube channel. He’s speaking virtually, and he continues to raise money to assist the blind. To date, 2020 Vision Quest has donated over $500,000. The need continues to grow. There were 4.4 million people who were legally blind when he started his non-profit in 2010. Today there are 32 million. Macular degeneration is the number one cause of blindness, and the aging of baby boomers is the primary reason for the 8X increase.

Soccer Camp

1st Boston Marathon in 2014

Quinn on Mt. Liberty

I encourage everyone to visit his website to see some truly uplifting videos. Or read Randy and Tracy’s book, See You at the Summit. I think you’ll see the world differently, with wise words from a man who no longer can see. But his disability certainly didn’t stop him. It led Randy to love and experiences he never imagined. And immense wisdom. One in four Americans experience some sort of disability. “When one meets someone with a disability, simply use common sense. Be kind and speak to them as you would anyone else.” Just like dogs treat us…with kindness and honesty.