Fidelco Dog Foundation Client Bryab Brown and his dogs!

Bryan Brown has covered a staggering number of miles with his Fidelco guide dogs. Growing up in extremely rural settings – including one Colorado town with a population of 52 in a mountain pass with no television or radio signals 65 miles from the nearest grocery store – he learned early in his teens that the best entertainment was found outside.

When he lost his vision at age 17 due to retinal detachment, he believed the outdoor adventure part of his life had come to an end.

Fast forward to 2004.

There are many reasons Bryan found his way to Fidelco, but perhaps the most striking was the difference he experienced between the way Fidelco approaches placement compared to other guide dog schools.

When Bryan first became a Fidelco client, he was running his own business and didn’t have time to take several weeks off to travel to a placement facility. Fidelco’s In-Community Placement model suited his busy life, and he quickly realized that this wasn’t the only thing that set them apart. He was struck by Fidelco’s commitment to preserving his dignity throughout the training process, not to mention their willingness to go above and beyond in every way.

It was with his first Fidelco guide dog, Tarik, that he learned to hike independently, reopening a door that he once thought closed forever.

With his second Fidelco dog, Oscar, things really took off, and Bryan reached incredible heights. With Oscar by his side, he hiked the majority of the Appalachian Trail, as well as portions of the Continental Divide Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, the Ice Age Trail, and many others.

Together they covered thousands of miles, even living full-time in a 40-foot motorcoach for two years, during which, thanks to intrepid friends and hired drivers, they never slept in the same place two nights in a row for an entire 365 days.

Bryan and Oscar’s bond was so strong that it took a few years after Oscar’s passing before Bryan was ready for a successor dog, but ultimately the time did come. First came Zuke and then, in August of 2025, his current guide dog, Koda.

Of all his dogs, Koda is the one who gravitates the most to his people. Whether Bryan is shoveling snow during the Wisconsin winter or in his workshop, Koda is there.

And it is in that workshop where another chapter of Bryan’s story is unfolding.

As someone who once had maple saplings growing in the seams of his backpack, Bryan has a keen understanding of how harsh extreme hiking can be. And while he calls the intricately stitched leather harnesses that Fidelco guide dogs use “works of art,” he knows that in some settings, function wins out over form every time.

That’s why Bryan began tinkering with alternative leashes and harnesses made of extremely durable, lightweight, not to mention dishwasher safe, materials. Today he crafts innovative gear that can potentially last across generations of guide dog teams while offering a functional edge, whether navigating a trail or daily life.

Bryan dreams of a day when his home-based enterprise is a sustainable, equitable business that not only revolutionizes the guide dog harness industry but also employs people who are blind to build the component parts of each hand-crafted item.

From the wild woods and waters of Colorado and Wisconsin and beyond to life in a roving motor home and the many hours spent in his current workshop, Bryan Brown is all in when it comes to Fidelco and the guide dog community.

Hello Connecticut, the podcast! This will be an extension of Hello Connecticut the talk show on WFSB Channel 3, The Wax and streaming platforms! We’ll highlight community-focused individuals and advocate for animals, law enforcement, and other local leaders. Amplifying the voices of non-profit organizations and causes that often go unnoticed, fostering positive community engagement across both on-air and digital platforms.