[nagdu] Missing guide dog found struck by car

Sun May 24 18:21:35 UTC 2009

Linda,

Good point about the different experiences between a pet dog and a guide
dog.  Because of the physical problems I'm finally on the verge of
recovering from, I made the decision early to give Mitzi extensive off-leash
time and training, to improve our odds if she does get loose.  Which she has
a couple of times, but I was able to recall her.  It's an unorthodox
decision, given the value of her training and her importance to me, but I
felt it was the best choice for us.  Also, I ate lots of Tums during her
youth.  /smile/

It wouldn't be practical for guide dog schools to do that with their dogs as
a matter of practice, or for the majority of guide dog handlers to practice
it, either.  Now that I'm able to reliable hold onto my girl, believe me I
do, except for when I mean to be working on off-leash stuff.  I plan to add
hiking and camping into my lifestyle as I get my health back and can have a
lifestyle, so that training will come in handy, I think.  Also, Tums.
/smile/

I'm sorry about your friend's dog.  I can't imagine, and it can happen so
easily with just one forgetful moment.  I'm glad you did not lose your dog
when that happened!

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Linda Gwizdak
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2009 2:38 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Missing guide dog found struck by car

What a shame about the guide dog getting hit by a car. did the dog die or 
was he really hurt and Todd had to pay thousands of dollars in vet bills?

There's a woman here who had a guide dog get let out of the house. The dog 
saw the woman's daughter across the street and he ran across the street but 
never made it across.  The dog was struck by a car and killed.

Shortly after I came home with a brand new guide dog, my roommate opened the

front door to get the mail. She didn't tell me she had the door open and out

ran my dog!  She ran up and down the sidewalk and, thank God, didn't cross 
the busy street we lived on. I had to tackle her as she ran by and injured 
my knees - now full of arthritis!

Both of these things happened by carelessness of people in leaving the doors

or gates open. Yes, our dogs are highly trained to avoid cars. But,they 
think that the cars are only dangerous when the dog is guiding us in 
harness - they learn to respect cars when they are guiding the instructor. 
The dogs don't generalize and realize that the cars are just as dangerous if

the dog is loose and running in the street.  Our dogs are just as vulernable

as a pet dog - actually more - because some pet dogs have been hit or bumped

by a car and they learned this valuable lesson. Our dogs do not get the 
chance to learn this lesson because they are never off leash outside unless 
in a secure fenced in area.

It sounds like Todd was just careless and didn't think about any cats 
scaring the dog and  - boom - the accident.

Lets all remember to think about our surroundings when we decide to release 
our dogs.

Regards,

Linda and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ginger Kutsch" <gingerKutsch at yahoo.com>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2009 5:18 AM
Subject: [nagdu] Missing guide dog found struck by car

> http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=10412802
> <http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=10412802&nav=menu188_2>
> &nav=menu188_2
> Missing guide dog found struck by car
> Jennie Runevitch/Eyewitness News
>
> Indianapolis - A man who lost his very independence this week is
> now in need of a new companion.
>
> Todd Wills is missing his best friend, but his 85-pound black lab
> was more than a pet.
>
> "I just can't imagine not being with him. I'm already feeling
> lost," Wills said. "It's like I've lost my sight all over again."
>
>
> Bruin was Todd's link to life. The highly-trained, highly
> expensive guide dog had served as Todd's eyes for three years.
>
> "Hopefully other people will understand the difference between a
> pet and a guide dog. I mean, he's still kind of a pet, but he's a
> part of me and I'm missing a chunk of me," Wills said.
>
> Bruin disappeared early Thursday morning after getting spooked by
> a cat at his home on Broadway Street.
>
> "We were coming in the door and I stopped at the screen door to
> let him off his harness and leash so he could run in and a cat
> charged him. I stepped out immediately started calling him
> and...nothing," Wills said.
>
> Late Thursday, Wills got the news he'd feared. A police officer
> came to his door and said they found Bruin near the corner of
> 40th and College. The guide dog had been hit by a car.
>
> "They matched the collar up and he wasn't in good shape.
> Apparently, whoever hit him didn't feel it was important enough
> to stop," Wills said.
>
> Todd's companion, his source of independence, was gone, and their
> important bond was broken.
>
> "It just doesn't feel right to walk around without him. I find
> myself, you know, crying over Bruin all day and then I'm thinking
> that I need to get another guide dog so I can continue my
> independence," Wills said.
>
> But guide dogs can cost tens of thousands of dollars and require
> extensive training. While most of the cost is underwritten by
> donations, Todd says he will still have to pay several thousand
> dollars out-of-pocket, which is difficult since he's on
> disability and in school.
> "That makes it a challenge to put all this together,"  Wills
> said.
>
> For now, Todd is coping with loss and in need of another guide
> through life.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Ginger Bennett Kutsch
> Morristown, NJ
>
>
>
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