Posted on 02/24/2005 6:10:48 AM PST by Calpernia
NEW YORK CITY — In the aftershock of the worst terrorist gambit ever to hit the USA, we learn that the greatest inspiration can be found in the words, images and televised coverage of the American peoples' patriotic strength. But now, pan the cameras down a bit, and you'll find, just as heartening, the nation's dogs also upholding this great spirit of gallantry.
If you don't believe me, listen to this:
New York resident Omar Eduardo Rivera was unfortunate enough to find himself on the 71st floor of the World Trade Center north tower when the hijacked airliner struck the building 25 floors above him. Mr. Rivera, a computer technician who is blind, was in his office with his guide dog "Dorado" lying under the desk at the time.
According to the Contra Costa Times report published today, Mr. Rivera described how he unleashed his faithful friend, so that the dog might escape. But despite the chaos and the crowds of fleeing people, the four-year-old Labrador Retriever suppressed any selfish instinct for survival and instead stayed by the man's side and guided him to safety.
Mr. Rivera describes the drama:
"I stood up and I could hear how pieces of glass were flying around and falling. I could feel the smoke filling up my lungs and the heat was just unbearable.
"Not having any sight I knew I wouldn't be able to run down the stairs and through all the obstacles like other people. I was resigned to dying and decided to free Dorado to give him a chance of escape. It wasn't fair that we should both die in that hell.
"I thought I was lost forever—the noise and the heat were terrifying—but I had to give Dorado the chance of escape. So I unclipped his lead, ruffled his head, gave him a nudge and ordered Dorado to go.
"I hoped he would be able to quickly run down the stairs without me and get to safety. I thought he'd be so scared he'd run. Everything was in chaos. Glass was shattering around my head and people were rushing past down the stairs."
At that point, Dorado was swept away by the rush of people fleeing down the stairs, and Mr. Rivera found himself on his own for several minutes amid the pandemonium. But then the unexpected occurred, in the form of a familiar, fuzzy nudge from knee-high.
Mr. Rivera explains, "He returned to my side a few minutes later and guided me down 70 flights and out into the street, it was amazing. It was then I knew for certain he loved me just as much as I loved him. He was prepared to die in the hope he might save my life."
Inside the egress stairwell, they found some additional assistance from a co-worker. "I took hold of her arm. She went down on my right side and the dog on my left," says Mr. Rivera.
The narrow stairwell was extremely crowded, and confusion exacerbated the situation. "People were pushing and shoving past me. Everywhere there was a sense of terror."
But according to the man, order gradually prevailed: "...most people behaved quite prudently and grasped what was happening, so we walked down in an orderly fashion, but it was slow going. It was slow going because there were so many people struggling to get out but Dorado kept nudging me down step by step."
It took more than an hour for Dorado, Mr. Rivera and his co-worker to descend those 70 flights of stairs. Not long after they had reached the ground and gotten to safety, the tower collapsed.
Says Mr. Rivera, "I owe my life to Dorado—my companion and best friend."
I believe they are little more aggressive than a German Shepherd.
Maybe. But knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t have been remotely nice if I were stuck in a slow line half way down and found that he and his dog were the problem ;^)
Thanks for the info, we're a German Shepherd family, check out my home page to see some photos of our dogs.
Here's a guide dog story from today that isn't nearly as uplifting, to put it mildly. Link
"Sharper" possibly in temperment then many w. conformation german shepherds, though working lines g shepherd's can have similar sharpness.
V's wife.
I want one too, they're kinda cute!!! V's wife.
you want a BullSH**? :P
Forgot your humanity pill today, didn't you?
Thanks for the link. That guy has a lot more problems than just blindness.
Perhaps ;^)
And if it was as I described, hundreds of additional people getting out alive could write about what a cold hearted thug I was for restraining him and his dog from their path.
You sir, are heartless.
We watched this particular story unfold right here on FR. The blind man changed the story a little bit after it happened. During the walk down, he was assisted by many people, of course. People are uncommonly kind to blind men with white canes or guide dogs.
There’s a big unknown here: Were he and his dog holding up traffic. I live on an island with an 18 mile two lane road to the mainland, and weekly deal with the effects of one slow vehicle. So for the sake of this scenario, let’s say the traffic was impacted a little behind him, and open in front. And let’s say I somehow knew the building was going to collapse in minutes when I came upon him as a traffic problem.
I have no way of knowing what I’d have the courage and on the spot sense to do, but here’s what I think I should do. I’d look for an area that I could pull him out of the way. I’d explain to him that he was killing women and children by going so slow, and walk down with him only if he could keep up with the flow. Otherwise, I’d stay with him and suffer what I asked of him.
If he didn’t agree, I’d do something that would make you certain that I was “heartless”.
Regards
FRegards,
If I didn’t think it likely that a blind man and his dog held up some of the 1000s going down the stairwell, I wouldn’t have brought it up. We’re inevitably exposed to lots of disturbing concepts on FR. Regards.
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