[Cagdu] FW: More on the guide Dog seriously injured on SkyTrain

[Tina Thomas]

Subject: More on the guide Dog seriously injured on SkyTrain

 
Guide Dog seriously injured on SkyTrain 
 By Kim Pemberton 4 Oct 2010 Puppy Love  
 
The image of a guide dog for the blind being trapped and dragged
along a SkyTrain platform until its leash snapped, after the dog
hit a metal safety pole, is indeed a horrific one that left its
owner and some witnesses who contacted the media understandably
shaken and questioning whether TransLink has adequate safety
mechanisms in place to prevent a future recurrence. You can read
more on my story here. 
http://www.vancouversun.com/Owner+guide+dragged+SkyTrain+question
s+safety+features/3622240/story.html
Palm, a five-year-old yellow Labrador, is undergoing her second
surgery today - this time to repair a broken muzzle. She already
underwent surgery to repair a punctured lung and she suffered
cracked ribs, as well, but she is expected to make a full
recovery after last Thursday's accident at the SkyTrain Lougheed
station in Burnaby. 
 
Her owner Iris Thompson, who is blind, told Global TV that she no
longer trusts riding SkyTrain and is sickened by what happened to
her guide dog. In that report, the reason given for the dog being
separated from Thompson was the "crush of the crowd" caused Palm
to step back from Thompson and off the train resulting in her
leash being caught up in the door. The dog tried vainly to keep
up with the train by running alongside it until she struck the
pole as the train pulled away. She narrowly avoided being hit and
killed by a second train coming into the station.
 
This heart-breaking story, which TransLink spokesman Ken Hardie
described as "highly unusual," with nothing like it happening to
any of its 1 billion other passengers since the automated transit
system began in 1986, does illustrate the need for the public to
be especially courteous whenever they see someone in public with
a guide dog.
 
"We're trying to get more information to the public that whenever
they see these dogs in public to not crowd the dog,"  said
Pacific Assistance Dogs Society spokesperson Gail Ferrier. PADS
raises and trains assistance dogs for people with physical
disabilities or who are deaf or hearing impaired.
 
B.C. Guide Dogs spokesperson, Erin Anne Beirne, said their
organization plans to inform all of their clients about the
incident so they can be "more attentive" around SkyTrain. "We are
all absolutely horrified to hear what happened," said Beirne.
"It's horrible news. We feel for both the dog and the dog guide
user what a shock but we hope Palm makes a full recovery."
 
CNIB's executive director for B.C. and the Yukon, John Mulka,
agreed the accident has been "traumatic" for all parties. He
wouldn't go so far as to encourage CNIB clients to be extra
cautious around SkyTrain but is waiting to read the final
investigation report. (The provincial safety regulator will also
be looking into the matter.)
 
"I don't know all the facts. If there is a problem with SkyTrain
I'd like to see it rectified so we don't have a situation like
this again," he said.
 
The vet bill is approximately $15,000 and discussions are
underway between TransLink and Thompson about them. One would
hope TransLink does the right thing and at the very least offer
to compensate her, not to mention compensation for the suffering
Palm has had to endure. But in the meantime, the Canada West
Veterinary Specialist and Critical Care Hospital, where Palm is
being treated, has set up a fund for the public to contribute.
You can call (604) 473-4882 or go to their website at
www.canadawestvets.com. The hospital has also set up a blog to
provide updates on Palm's health status. I understand today,
prior to surgery, she was standing and looking a little brighter.
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
_______________________________________________

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