Robin's Nest from American Humane - More Than a Guide: The Life-Changing Bond of Donald and Terry

Episode Date: April 6, 2026

In this inspiring episode of Robin’s Nest, we welcome a truly extraordinary duo: Donald, a six-year-old Labrador Retriever and Hero Dog Award finalist, and his handler, U.S. military veteran Terry Galgano. After losing her central vision following 25 years of service, Terry faced a life-altering transition, but with Donald by her side, she found a renewed sense of independence, confidence and joy.Donald is far more than a guide dog. He provides intuitive navigation, constant companionship and life-saving protection in Terry’s daily life. Together, they travel the country, host public events and even ski, experiences that once felt out of reach. At home, their bond shines through in playful moments, from dancing to music to games of hide-and-seek, strengthening the trust that defines their partnership.We also explore what sets exceptional guide dogs apart, including the powerful concept of “intelligent disobedience,” a skill Donald demonstrated when he prevented Terry from stepping into a dangerous construction zone, an act that likely avoided serious injury and helped earn him national recognition as a Hero Dog nominee.This episode is a moving reminder of the profound connection between humans and animals, and how courage, trust and partnership can transform lives in the most meaningful ways.

Today we're spotlining an extraordinary guide dog whose intuition and courage have quite literally changed a life. Meet Donald, a devoted Labador retriever and trusted partner of U.S. military veteran Terry Galgano. Together they exemplify how independence and confidence are possible, even after profound vision loss. Donald just doesn't guide Terry. He protects. He empowers and he brings joy every single day. We're thrilled to welcome Donald and Terry to Robbins Nest right here at the American Humane Sanctuary. Welcome to Robbins Nest. Many of us feel a deep bond with animals from the pets we cherish at home to the endangered species in nature. Join us for lively informative conversations where together we will build a more humane world. I'm so thrilled today at Robbins Nest to welcome two of my favorites. I just love Terry. I just love Terry. I'm a more humane world. I'm so thrilled today at Robbins Nest to welcome. I'm so thrilled today at Robbins Nest to welcome. I'm a new one. I'm so. I'm so I'm a

a United States military veteran. Great story to share with us. And her hero dog, our service dog of the year, Donald. Yes, Donald. Here we are at the American Humane Sanctuary in Robbins Nest, having a great conversation. Terry, welcome to our show today. We're so thrilled to share your story with so many people

and to share about Donald, our hero dog, our service dog, hero dog of the year. Thank you. I am excited to be the recipient with Donald of the American Humane Society Hero Dog Award. It's just an amazing event in our lives. Oh, I'm so glad. I'm so glad. Well, today, I know you just said you love this beautiful farm that we're at. It is gorgeous.

It's a slice of heaven, our sanctuary here in Florida. And we're here to celebrate an honor because our big gala is coming up, where Donald will be celebrated and teared and toasted by all, as our service hero dog of the year. But Terry, I want to start with you first and your story. Would you be so kind to share your amazing story, military veteran, and your journey as to where you are, why you are here today? Thank you. I spent 25 years in the U.S. Army.

I retired. And at the age of 20, I was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder and told that I would lose my vision sometime around the age of 50 to 60. And sure enough, that happened. And when it did, I retired from my teaching career after military career. And one of the first things I did was put in for a guide dog. And about a year later, I was the recipient of this amazing dog which changed my life at the time. He gave me my independence back.

As a retired, you know, as a lieutenant colonel in the army, who was very a debilable. and used to going out and doing things on my own. And once I started using a cane and couldn't see anymore, it was isolating. And so when I got this great dog, Donald, I started going out and living my life again, not just to live my best life, but to make sure that he was experiencing everything

thing that he could do because he is really a hero to me. Yes. He has this amazing, he has these amazing skills. He does have amazing skills and now he's sniffing my water. He's like, oh, there's some water over here. Maybe a little thirsty. Yeah, he's like, I know you're talking about me. Yes. Well, first of all, he is so gorgeous. I want to back up it a little bit about your story because for a long time you knew you had this disorder that would lead to blindness, but yet you became so active, became a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army. You didn't let it stop you. You didn't let it paralyze you. I mean, that is so courageous what you did. You lived your life fully. And that is to be so commended because for many people having a diagnosis like that at age 20, you know, you did. You live your life fully.

would be like, oh my gosh, paralyzing, but you are the definition of resilience and the definition of moral courage. You went on and you also gave such great service to our country. And retiring as a lieutenant colonel, we must all say, thank you. Thank you for what you've done for our country. And thank you for, again, sharing your story. Then, of course, the disorder actually comes true. And you began to lose your side and vision. That had to be frightening. It was. because you don't know what it's going to result in. You don't know blindness until you're looking out of your eyes again and not seeing things. And it took about seven years of medical treatment, which slowed the progression.

But at some point, I had to stop lying on my eye exam and give up driving. And I did that. And when that happened, it was such a relief because I was there. I was now blind, and now I could move on with my life. I set a lot of goals for myself. I was going to go back to school and get a master's degree in mass communication. I was going to work for a veteran service organization and help them. And I was going to get a guide dog.

And I did all of that within about three years. Well, you are amazing. So let's talk about Donald's journey into your life, this incredible dog. How did you find them? I knew about southeastern guide dogs, which is now Dogs Inc., a guide dog school in Florida. My parents lived just a few miles from there, and they often talked about the guide dog school. And in the back of my mind, I kept saying someday, you're going to need it. And I researched it, and I knew one of the first things I had to do was learn how to use a cane.

Because that's a requirement. so I learned how to use my white cane, and then I applied. And it's interesting because I went to a convention using my cane, and nobody came up to talk to me during that time. So blindness is an isolating condition. I can't recognize people's faces. So I don't even see my friends out there if I know anybody. And then I got Donald, and six months later I went back to that same convention.

and everybody came up to me and talked to me. Oh, I love that. Because of Donald. He breaks barriers between people. He's, it's, you know, with a dog. Everybody comes up and they want to talk about the dog. Isn't that amazing? Well, you know, I always say that the human animal bond brings in the richest communities

with social capital. They serve as the buffer to bring humans together. They serve as that catalyst for a conversation, for a connection. And dogs, cats, they bring us together, our whole community because of their incredible human-animal bond and that healing that happens. You know, you talk about Dogs Inc., right? Formerly Southeastern Guide Dogs. In Donald's honor, I'm so pleased today to announce that we are going to offer a $5,000 grant to Dogs Inc. to thank them for their incredible work because I'm so inspired by your story and your journey

and your willingness to share it with all of us in Robins Nest and Beyond as part of this year's Hero Dog Award. So thank you. Thank you. And we hope it'll pay it forward to get another guide dog for someone else like you. Because it's so amazing your story, Terry. That's wonderful. Thank you so much. They do great work with giving people guide dogs. and veterans service dogs, and they just change people's lives like they did mine. We are happy to be a proud supporter. Thank you so much. Well, thank you, Terry.

I want to pivot now and ask you, what is Donald's superpower besides napping? Right now he's decided napping is his superpower, but I know he has another one. What is his superpower? So, well, he's a great leader. And that comes from a trait that they called intelligent disobedience. and intelligent disobedience is a dog knowing what is right and wrong to keep me safe. If I give him a command of forward, but the path is not clear or unsafe, he will ignore my command and do what he thinks is safe. He'll stop, let me either evaluate the situation, or he'll put

himself in front of me to protect me or pull me away from danger. So it's this intelligent disobedience that he has, that keeps me safe. I love that. I've never heard that term before. Intelligent disobedience. And that's how he's trained to keep you safe. Yes. To listen to your command, but if it's not right for you, he's going to protect you. That's right. If I am walking in a parking lot and I tell him to go forward, he will pull me left to the nearest sidewalk because he knows it's not safe for me to be walking behind cars in a parking lot or on the street. So if there is a sidewalk, he takes me there. I don't know how they train that.

I don't understand that, but these dogs have this amazing ability. Even though they listen to your command, if it's not safe, they go ahead and do something else. I love it. Well, that's an incredible superpower. Because you yourself are such an inspirational person, what's your superpower? People in Robbins Nest want to know. I think it's not giving up. You just keep going day after day

and you just don't let things get you down or stop you. You pick yourself up and you keep moving on. Monday I'll be in Colorado skiing. Oh my gosh. I'm not going to Colorado to ski and you are. Wow. When I lost my vision, lost my vision. I learned how to ski through adaptive ski programs. You are one of the most amazing

people I've ever met. I'm so so impressed. I love that. Never giving up. Never giving up. And Donald, well, he's going to ski with you. I have to ask. Is he going to ski with you? No, he goes with me, but he stays with his girlfriend, another yellow lab in the base in the office in a little kennel. He just hangs out there with his friend. service dog, the yellow lab. I love that. I love that. But he gets me there. He loves playing in the snow. That's so beautiful. It's a nice break from Florida. It is. It is. And he likes it. It's a nice cool weather thing. But this whole experience has just been amazing for us. When I go out, when I was out getting votes for Donald, I learned that if I opened with the American Humane Society

hero dog, people listened. They could relate to the American Humane Society and the brand that you have. And they all had a story about a humane society dog or cat or whatever. But they all had a story. They all listened. And so that branding in the American Humane Society made it so much easier to do this contest. Oh, that's beautiful. That's beautiful. Well, we're so proud it's 15 years of celebrating heroes on both ends of the leash. And as you hear Terry's story and Donald's story and all the stories of this year's hero dogs, you know, there's 15 years of amazing stories of courage and hope and importantly unconditional love. And what I see here is unconditional love. And I also see a story of not given up.

It's amazing. Terry, thank you so much. Congratulations to you and Donald. We're so proud to know you We're proud to support Dogs Inc. as one of our charity partners, and we're proud to pay it forward. So thank you so much for being in Robbins Nest. Thank you, Robin, and thank you for that generous donation. Thank you for tuning in to Robbins Nest. We want to hear what you think. Please make sure to review the podcast on your podcast platform. Watch for upcoming episodes that will include new and exciting discussions.

If you love animals, you'll love this season of Robin's Nest.