MIRA USA was founded in 2008 by Robert A. (Bob) Baillie, and his wife, Elaine, after Bob became totally blind from complications of coronary bypass surgery. Bob had been living a very active life in North Carolina prior to his surgery. After retiring from a career as a world renowned dental implant specialist, Bob launched a second career in residential and commercial construction and real estate investment. When he wasn’t working he was gardening, playing golf, traveling with Elaine, and pursuing his love of classic cars. Everything changed after the surgery.

It took Bob nearly a year after his surgery to emerge from the despair of suddenly becoming totally blind. Fortunately, he had close friends who knew a lot about MIRA Canada and their wonderful guide dogs. These friends encouraged Bob to travel to MIRA Canada to acquire a guide dog. He and Elaine took the trip to Canada, and after Devon came into their lives and made such a positive impact, they knew they wanted to give this opportunity to others.

Today, Bob serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors and is very involved with public speaking engagements and fundraising for MIRA USA. In 2010 alone, he spoke before nearly 1,000 Fourth grade schoolchildren in a partnership with the Moore County Pet Responsibility group which teaches young people to advocate for animals, while Bob teaches them to understand how service animals advocate for their owners. He also regularly meets with civic and corporate groups, and willingly shares his experiences with anyone wishing to learn more about the life changing opportunities a guide dog can provide.

Bob is also very committed to the young, blind student population MIRA USA currently serves. He frequently speaks about how much inspiration he gets from this group, however, anyone who has had the opportunity to witness Bob interact with “his students” can attest to the genuine love and concern he feels for each and every one of them. They have become yet another unanticipated gift in a life that has been filled with surprises. And anyone who has met Bob knows there are many more gifts and surprises yet to come.