Meet Our Teams

Robbie and Harpo

As a teenager, Robbie was a BMX bicycle racer but his career came to an abrupt end when an older rider crashed into him in 1987. Though no longer able to ride a bike, Robbie remains a fierce competitor in most aspects of his life. Robbie races radio controlled cars and owns and operates a track in nearby Gordonsville. He is a senior programmer with the Institute for Applied Technology in the Humanities at the University of Virginia in Alderman Library. Before Harpo entered his life, Robbie says “I knew about 10 people at the library. Now I know everybody.” Robbie tell us that there is a waiting list of people to help him take Harpo for a walk, proving how a service dog can provide a vital connection between a person who is disabled and their surrounding community.