[nfbmi-talk] Guide dog dies after saving owner's child

[Terry D. Eagle]

Guide dog dies after saving owner's child

Jerry Carnes, WXIA-TV, Atlanta

[From: 

3:59 p.m. EDT September 26, 2013

 

ATLANTA - Despite suffering life-threatening injuries after being

struck by a car, a guide dog saved the life of his owner's child, leading a
family to call him a hero.

 

On Monday, Dave Furukawa, who is visually impaired, was walking his young 

son to school along with Simon. As the trio crossed Brownwood Avenue,

witnesses saw a car run a stop sign and strike the 80-pound boxer, then
Furukawa.

Bystanders have told the Furukawa family that Simon's protective instinct 

Kicked in, despite injuries that would prove to be fatal.

 

"What people have said is that Simon either got up or jumped out, and

pushed my son out of the path of the car," said Furukawa, who has counted on
Simon

as his companion and guide for the past four years. "This is true loyalty
and courage."

 

Witnesses lifted Furukawa's 4-year-old son, Will, and took him to his
mother. Simon

went with them.  "Broken leg, gash on his side and internal bleeding, but he
followed

us home," said Furukawa. "Once he was sure Will was OK, he laid down."
Family members  rushed Simon to an emergency vet clinic, but the boxer

died on the way.

 

Furukawa was hospitalized with a broken elbow, knee and heel.

 

Atlanta police say Calvin Armour was cited for running a stop sign and

failing to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

 

Columbus, Ohio-based Pilot Dogs, which provided Simon to Furukawa, has

said it will give Furukawa another trained guide dog.