[nagdu] Neighbors mourn death of blind pedestrian; his service dog will recover

[Ginger Kutsch]

Neighbors mourn death of blind pedestrian; his service dog will recover

August 24, 2011

http://www.wtvr.com/news/wtvr-neighbors-mourn-pedestrian-blind-man-killed-wh
ile-service-dog-recovers-20110824,0,6132815.story

RICHMOND (WTVR)- 

 

Neighbors of a blind Richmond man are mourning his accidental death.

 

"He was one of the sweetest neighbors that you would want in your
community," said neighbor Dianna Harrison. 

 

Seventy-four year old Dudley Mines will be missed. Neighbors say you could
see him and his seeing eye dog Romeo walking their streets several times a
day.  He was doing just that Monday night. He was crossing the road at the
corner of Old Brook and Bellvue Road in North Richmond. A car turning the
corner grazed Mines and knocked him over. Moments later a truck would make
the turn and run over Mines and his dog. Both drivers stopped to help but it
was too late. The accident killed Mines and left Romeo with serious
injuries.

 

"We just want to thank God for the time he allowed him in our lives," said
Harrison.

 

Neighbors are preparing for a vigil tomorrow night. Mines three children are
also involved in the planning. Signs of sympathy lay outside his home but
there's been sympathy shown in other ways too..

 

"There was really a coming together to help Romeo," said Veterinarian Nathan
Lippo. 

 

The six year old black lab suffered cuts, bruising and a broken leg.

 

"With some pain medication some fluids and antibiotics he turned around
pretty quickly became stable very quickly," said Lippo.

 

Wednesday the dog had surgery to secure his leg. Lippo says the relationship
between a seeing eye dog and it's owner is a special one and is sometimes
irreplaceable.

 

"These seeing eye dogs lived with owners for a long time so long Romeo has
lost a member of his family," said Lippo.

 

A funeral for Dudley Mines will be held on Saturday at 2pm Watkins funeral
home. Neither driver has been charged in the incident. Police say their
investigation is ongoing. Mines daughter says once he recovers she plans to
adopt Romeo.