that is very very scary stuff.
I have been exceedingly fortunate in the past 10 years of working a guide 
dog to have never gotten that close to a moving car, or at least, not one 
that was moving at more than a crawl out of a driveway or something.

It occurs to me, that for us to obtain a guide dog, we must train thoroughly 
for up to 4 weeks for our first dog.  If drivers had to do even half as much 
training to obtain a drivers license as we are required to do just to work a 
dog for mobility, everyone would be a whole lot safer on the roads.
Those of you who do have a guide dog, think of this.  How good would it be 
if you simply had to write a test and then your dog was handed over to you. 
No training, no familiarization just simply handed over and you were 
expected to know how to work the dog, care for the dog and keep yourself, 
your dog, and other people safe.  This is essentially what happens when you 
obtain a drivers license.  Some places have insentives to lower insurance 
costs by taking a drivers education course, but these are fairly 
minimalistic as well.  Now, put this completely untrained person behind the 
wheel of a large fast moving vehicle, add emotions, impatients, stress and 
inattention to detail and it's a recipe for disaster.
But, those of us who use dogs, can't imagine not receiving that complete 
training to simply walk around with a dog lol.

Something wrong with this picture?

stay well pat and thank god, or what ever you choose to thank,  that it 
wasn't worse than it was.

73
Colin, V A6BKX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Pat Byrne" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2012 9:22 AM
Subject: Must be contagious


> Linda and all,
> Must be contagious.  My dog guide and I were hit Thursday evening on
> our way home from the office.  Could have been oh so much worse.  I
> have a sprained knee, strained muscles and ligaments and a very
> impaired left leg.  I am using a knee immobilizer when I walk and a
> cane to help bear the weight on the left leg.  Jenna, my Seeing Eye
> friend seems okay.  She saw the vet and everything seems good but the
> vet said often bruising takes several days to show and to keep tabs
> on her.  As of just now she seems fine.
> I was in the cross walk, with parallel traffic and all of a sudden
> this a*****e took us down.  I believe he was stopped and started
> while we were right in front of him.  Next I knew I was down on my
> right elbow and a bumper was working up my left side.  Thank God he
> stopped, and I think backed up.  Jenna was either on top of my left
> leg or just in front of it under the bumper.  I'm a bit unclear about
> that.  He got out of his car and I think helped me to my feet,
> although I didn't have enough function in my left leg to really
> walk.  He told me he was looking at traffic after I asked him what in
> the **** he was thinking.  I was far from polite.  My first and
> hopefully last ambulance ride - x-rays and no breaks but I'll be
> messed up for a while.  Three witnesses said I was absolutely in the
> right - he absolutely wasn't.  He received four citations, left the
> site in handcuffs in the back of a squad, and his 2003 Ford was towed.
> Wghen it happened I was so full of adrenalin that I couldn't think
> properly.  Later when I mellowed out I was so veery thankful.  If he
> hadnpt finally taken his thumb out of his butt and stopped, I very
> well could have been on the silent key list.
> Jenna seems fine.  I will work her as soon as I can walk well
> enough.  The school suggested I have a little sighted assisstance
> available when we work that crossing the next time or two in case she
> gets uncomfortable with it.  She is a wonderful guide and I so hope
> that her work and confidence won't be compromised.
> Enough of all of this.  May all on the list have a wonderful holiday 
> season.
> Pat, K9JAU
>