<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3c.org/TR/1999/REC-html401-19991224/loose.dtd">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.3268" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>Subject:</B> USA: situation
update on shocks to dogs from light rail in Oregon<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV><!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlStartT|**|-~-->
<DIV id=ygrp-mlmsg style="WIDTH: 655px; POSITION: relative">
<DIV id=ygrp-msg
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 25px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; Z-INDEX: 1; FLOAT: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 470px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"><!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlEndT|**|-~-->
<DIV id=ygrp-text>
<P><BR>TriMet steps up its monitoring of devices that reduce<BR>shocks to
paws<BR>MAX - Capacitors, which absorb voltage, will get<BR>weekly checks to
benefit guide dogs<BR>Sunday, March 16, 2008<BR>JOHN SNELL<BR>The
Oregonian<BR><BR>BEAVERTON -- TriMet still isn't sure why guide dogs<BR>for the
blind are sometimes shocked by its westside<BR>MAX line. But officials say they
believe the problem<BR>now is fixed.<BR><BR>Beginning eight years ago, guide
dogs for the blind<BR>were sometimes shocked while walking near westside
MAX<BR>tracks after a rain.<BR><BR>The shocks weren't strong enough to
physically harm<BR>the dogs but were strong enough to undo the
extensive<BR>training for some dogs.<BR><BR>There was no problem with the tracks
in downtown<BR>Portland or on the east side. No one ever figured out<BR>the
mystery of what made the westside tracks unique.<BR><BR>Three dogs were shocked
seriously enough that they had<BR>to be retrained. One had to retire.<BR><BR>In
2003, TriMet put capacitors along the tracks to<BR>absorb the extra voltage. The
cost of the system was<BR>less than $5,000, while it cost upward of
$50,000<BR>to train a single guide dog.<BR><BR>Problem solved. Or so everyone
thought.<BR><BR>Patricia A. Kepler, past president of Guide Dog Users<BR>of
Oregon, was at the Elmonica MAX station in January<BR>when her 5-year-old German
shepherd, Reuben,<BR>was shocked as they tried to board the train to
head<BR>downtown.<BR><BR>At TriMet, spokeswoman Peggy LaPoint said the
agency<BR>retested the capacitors that were installed in 2003<BR>and discovered
that some had worn out and others<BR>had blown fuses.<BR><BR>"We were able to
replace these capacitors," she said,<BR>"and have tightened up
monitoring."<BR><BR>TriMet was checking the capacitors each month. It
will<BR>now check them every week.<BR><BR>The trains are powered by electric
motors, but the<BR>motors are fed by overhead lines, rather than the<BR>power
carried in the tracks.<BR><BR>That electricity runs signal lights and carries 15
to<BR>25 volts, compared with the 12 volts in most
car<BR>batteries.<BR><BR>Without the capacitors, westside tracks carry as
much<BR>as 35 volts -- enough to give dogs a start.<BR><BR>Kepler's guide dog,
Reuben, wasn't badly hurt, but the<BR>experience made him skittish around trains
and even<BR>things that remind him of them. He'll hesitate<BR>before entering an
elevator, Kepler said, because its<BR>doors open and close automatically, just
as they do on<BR>a train.<BR><BR>"He seems really frightened," Kepler said.
"I'm<BR>working on it. At this point, I don't think it's going<BR>to be an
ongoing problem."<BR><BR>John Snell: 503-294-5949; <A
href="mailto:johnsnell%40news.oregonian.com">johnsnell@news.<WBR>oregonian.<WBR>com</A><BR><BR><A
href="http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1205553300306290.xml&coll=7">http://www.oregonli<WBR>ve.com/news/<WBR>oregonian/<WBR>index.ssf?<WBR>/base/news/<WBR>1205553300306290<WBR>.xml&coll=<WBR>7</A><BR><BR>©2008
The
Oregonian<BR><BR>____________<WBR>_________<WBR>_________<WBR>_________<WBR>_________<WBR>_________<WBR>_<BR>Never
miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. <BR><A
href="http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs">http://www.yahoo.<WBR>com/r/hs</A><BR></P></DIV><!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlStart|**|-~--><SPAN
style="COLOR: white" width="1">__._,_.___</SPAN> <!-- Start the section with Message In topic -->
<DIV id=ygrp-actbar><SPAN class=left><A
href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/K9Scoop/message/740;_ylc=X3oDMTMybm9jNXJoBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzcwNzQyNTIEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3NTA1MjQ3BG1zZ0lkAzc0MARzZWMDZnRyBHNsawN2dHBjBHN0aW1lAzEyMDU3MTAyNjQEdHBjSWQDNzQw">Messages
in this topic </A>(<SPAN class=bld>1</SPAN>) </SPAN><A
href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/K9Scoop/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJvbmsybnJuBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzcwNzQyNTIEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3NTA1MjQ3BG1zZ0lkAzc0MARzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNycGx5BHN0aW1lAzEyMDU3MTAyNjQ-?act=reply&messageNum=740"><SPAN
class=bld>Reply </SPAN>(via web post) </A>| <A class=bld
href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/K9Scoop/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJlZGNpdmFrBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzcwNzQyNTIEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3NTA1MjQ3BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA250cGMEc3RpbWUDMTIwNTcxMDI2NA--">Start
a new topic </A></DIV><!------- Start Nav Bar ------><!-- |**|begin egp html banner|**| -->
<DIV id=ygrp-vitnav><A
href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/K9Scoop/messages;_ylc=X3oDMTJldDc3cTR0BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzcwNzQyNTIEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3NTA1MjQ3BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA21zZ3MEc3RpbWUDMTIwNTcxMDI2NA--">Messages</A>
</DIV><!-- |**|end egp html banner|**| -->
<DIV id=ygrp-grft><!-- |**|begin egp html banner|**| -->For guide dog handlers
assisting guide dog handlers with advocacy/education--
visit:<BR>www.gdui.org or www.nfb-nagdu.org <!-- |**|end egp html banner|**| --></DIV><!-- yahoo logo --><!-- |**|begin egp html banner|**| -->
<DIV id=ygrp-ft><A
href="http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJkdmoyYXQ2BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzcwNzQyNTIEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3NTA1MjQ3BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2dmcARzdGltZQMxMjA1NzEwMjY0"><IMG
height=15 alt="Yahoo! Groups"
src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/yg/img/logo/ma_grp_160.gif" width=106
border=0 NOSEND="1"></A> <BR><A
href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/K9Scoop/join;_ylc=X3oDMTJmcmphbnQzBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzcwNzQyNTIEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3NTA1MjQ3BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3N0bmdzBHN0aW1lAzEyMDU3MTAyNjQ-">Change
settings via the Web</A> (Yahoo! ID required) <BR>Change settings via email: <A
href="mailto:K9Scoop-digest@yahoogroups.com?subject=Email Delivery: Digest">Switch
delivery to Daily Digest</A> | <A
href="mailto:K9Scoop-traditional@yahoogroups.com?subject=Change Delivery Format: Traditional">Switch
format to Traditional</A> <BR><A
href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/K9Scoop;_ylc=X3oDMTJkajU3Z3M5BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzcwNzQyNTIEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3NTA1MjQ3BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2hwZgRzdGltZQMxMjA1NzEwMjY0">Visit
Your Group </A>| <A href="http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/">Yahoo! Groups Terms
of Use </A>| <A
href="mailto:K9Scoop-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=">Unsubscribe
</A></DIV><!-- |**|end egp html banner|**| --></DIV><!-- ygrp-msg --><!-- Sponsor --><!-- |**|begin egp html banner|**| -->
<DIV id=ygrp-sponsor
style="CLEAR: none; BACKGROUND: white; FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 25px; WIDTH: 160px"><!-- Network content --><!-- Start Recommendations -->
<DIV id=ygrp-reco></DIV><!-- End Recommendations --><!-- Start vitality -->
<DIV id=ygrp-vital><A
href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/K9Scoop;_ylc=X3oDMTJlczFwbnRtBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzcwNzQyNTIEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3NTA1MjQ3BHNlYwN2dGwEc2xrA3ZnaHAEc3RpbWUDMTIwNTcxMDI2NA--">Visit
Your Group </A></DIV><!-- Network content -->
<DIV id=nc>
<DIV class=ad>
<DIV id=hd1>Wellness Spot</DIV>
<P><A
href="http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=13pgvejmm/M=493064.12016299.12445691.11322765/D=groups/S=1707505247:NC/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1205717464/L=/B=XfzTBkJe5tk-/J=1205710264912945/A=4990212/R=0/SIG=11d53kq3t/*http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/curves/">on
Yahoo! Groups</A></P>
<P>A resource for living</P>
<P>the Curves lifestyle.</P></DIV>
<DIV class=ad>
<DIV id=hd1>Special K Group</DIV>
<P><A
href="http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=13p6rqepc/M=493064.12016300.12445692.11323196/D=groups/S=1707505247:NC/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1205717464/L=/B=XvzTBkJe5tk-/J=1205710264912945/A=5170416/R=0/SIG=11b5gu1oe/*http://new.groups.yahoo.com/specialKgroup">on
Yahoo! Groups</A></P>
<P>Learn how others</P>
<P>are losing pounds.</P></DIV>
<DIV class=ad>
<DIV id=hd1>Best of Y! Groups</DIV>
<P><A
href="http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=13oe95ou9/M=493064.12016306.12445698.8674578/D=groups/S=1707505247:NC/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1205717464/L=/B=X_zTBkJe5tk-/J=1205710264912945/A=4763759/R=0/SIG=11ou7otip/*http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/bestofyahoogroups/">Check
it out</A></P>
<P>and nominate your</P>
<P>group to be featured.</P></DIV></DIV></DIV><!-- |**|end egp html banner|**| -->
<DIV style="CLEAR: both; FONT-SIZE: 1px; COLOR: #fff">.</DIV></DIV><IMG height=1
src="http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=7074252/grpspId=1707505247/msgId=740/stime=1205710264/nc1=4990212/nc2=5170416/nc3=4763759"
width=1 NOSEND="1"> <BR><SPAN style="COLOR: white">__,_._,___</SPAN> <!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlEnd|**|-~--><!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlStart|**|-~-->
<STYLE type=text/css>#ygrp-mkp {
BORDER-RIGHT: #d8d8d8 1px solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 14px; BORDER-TOP: #d8d8d8 1px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 14px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 14px 0px; BORDER-LEFT: #d8d8d8 1px solid; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d8d8d8 1px solid; FONT-FAMILY: Arial
}
#ygrp-mkp HR {
BORDER-RIGHT: #d8d8d8 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #d8d8d8 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #d8d8d8 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d8d8d8 1px solid
}
#ygrp-mkp #hd {
FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 85%; MARGIN: 10px 0px; COLOR: #628c2a; LINE-HEIGHT: 122%
}
#ygrp-mkp #ads {
MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px
}
#ygrp-mkp .ad {
PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px
}
#ygrp-mkp .ad A {
COLOR: #0000ff; TEXT-DECORATION: none
}
</STYLE>
<STYLE type=text/css>#ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc {
FONT-FAMILY: Arial
}
#ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc #hd {
FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 78%; MARGIN: 10px 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 122%
}
#ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc .ad {
PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px
}
</STYLE>
<STYLE type=text/css>#ygrp-mlmsg {
FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif
}
#ygrp-mlmsg TABLE {
}
#ygrp-mlmsg SELECT {
FONT: 99% arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif
}
INPUT {
FONT: 99% arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif
}
TEXTAREA {
FONT: 99% arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif
}
#ygrp-mlmsg PRE {
FONT: 100% monospace
}
CODE {
FONT: 100% monospace
}
#ygrp-mlmsg {
LINE-HEIGHT: 1.22em
}
#ygrp-text {
FONT-FAMILY: Georgia
}
#ygrp-text P {
MARGIN: 0px 0px 1em
}
#ygrp-tpmsgs {
CLEAR: both; FONT-FAMILY: Arial
}
#ygrp-vitnav {
FONT-SIZE: 77%; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana
}
#ygrp-vitnav A {
PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px
}
#ygrp-actbar {
CLEAR: both; MARGIN: 25px 0px; COLOR: #666; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; TEXT-ALIGN: right
}
#ygrp-actbar .left {
FLOAT: left; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap
}
.bld {
FONT-WEIGHT: bold
}
#ygrp-grft {
PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 77%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 15px; PADDING-TOP: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana
}
#ygrp-ft {
PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: #666 1px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 77%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-TOP: 5px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana
}
#ygrp-mlmsg #logo {
PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px
}
#ygrp-reco {
PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 20px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px
}
#ygrp-reco #reco-head {
FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: #ff7900
}
#reco-grpname {
MARGIN-TOP: 10px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold
}
#reco-category {
FONT-SIZE: 77%
}
#reco-desc {
FONT-SIZE: 77%
}
#ygrp-vital {
PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 20px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 8px; PADDING-TOP: 2px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #e0ecee
}
#ygrp-vital #vithd {
FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 77%; TEXT-TRANSFORM: uppercase; COLOR: #333; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana
}
#ygrp-vital UL {
PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 2px 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px
}
#ygrp-vital UL LI {
CLEAR: both; BORDER-RIGHT: #e0ecee 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #e0ecee 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #e0ecee 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0ecee 1px solid; LIST-STYLE-TYPE: none
}
#ygrp-vital UL LI .ct {
PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FLOAT: right; WIDTH: 2em; COLOR: #ff7900; TEXT-ALIGN: right
}
#ygrp-vital UL LI .cat {
FONT-WEIGHT: bold
}
#ygrp-vital A {
TEXT-DECORATION: none
}
#ygrp-vital A:hover {
TEXT-DECORATION: underline
}
#ygrp-sponsor #hd {
FONT-SIZE: 77%; COLOR: #999
}
#ygrp-sponsor #ov {
PADDING-RIGHT: 13px; PADDING-LEFT: 13px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 20px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 6px; PADDING-TOP: 6px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #e0ecee
}
#ygrp-sponsor #ov UL {
PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px
}
#ygrp-sponsor #ov LI {
PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 77%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 6px; PADDING-TOP: 6px; LIST-STYLE-TYPE: square
}
#ygrp-sponsor #ov LI A {
FONT-SIZE: 130%; TEXT-DECORATION: none
}
#ygrp-sponsor #nc {
PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 20px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #eee
}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad {
PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 8px; PADDING-TOP: 8px
}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad #hd1 {
FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 100%; COLOR: #628c2a; LINE-HEIGHT: 122%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial
}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad A {
TEXT-DECORATION: none
}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad A:hover {
TEXT-DECORATION: underline
}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad P {
MARGIN: 0px
}
o {
FONT-SIZE: 0px
}
.MsoNormal {
MARGIN: 0px
}
#ygrp-text TT {
FONT-SIZE: 120%
}
BLOCKQUOTE {
MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 4px
}
.replbq {
}
</STYLE>
<!--~-|**|PrettyHtmlEnd|**|-~--><!--End group email --></BODY></HTML>