Love is definitely NOT blind!!!

As well as saving lots of photos, stories and other paraphanelia from the web, i have also started numerous blogs over the years, for each and every hobby, study, interest or career that i have been involved or interested in! I needed a place for saving all those interesting things that i find on the net and think " oh, i should send that to..." and then i can never find it again! So I thought it would be good to have a blog where i could keep it all in one place and then i can just send the link!
Hope you enjoy my collection, feel free to share and send me some of your favourite stuff that you've saved too!

I am going to start off today with a couple of incredible animal stories that were inspired by a hoax mail i was sent.....whenever i receive these tear-jerker emails i check them out on Urban Legends about.com or hoax-slayer.com  or just good old google it for authenticity...and sometimes i get a nice surprise by finding the true and more inspirational stories that the hoax was originally inspired by.

Thanks to Deepa for sending me the original heartfelt story about a blind man and his dog...

The Path to Safety

A survivor of the World Trade Center tragedy tells his story

(Guide Dog News, Fall 2001)

Michael Hingson was on the 78th floor of the World Trade Center in New York on that fateful Tuesday morning when the building was struck by a plane under the control of terrorist fanatic.

His yellow Lab guide, "Roselle," was sleeping peacefully under his desk, and the two had been going about their daily routines. Michael is the district sales manager for the computer company Quantum ATL and had been hosting a meeting of field representatives.

"I heard a loud noise like a bump and then a lot of shaking. It was worse than any earthquake I’ve ever experienced," he said. Michael grew up in Palmdale, Calif., and had experienced the Northridge earthquake that struck the state in ’94, among others. He now lives with his wife Karen in Westfield, NJ.

"The building started swaying, and the air was filled with smoke, fire, paper and the smell of kerosene," he said. The plane had struck 15 floors above him. He knew something serious had happened, and his first thought was to call his wife and then make sure everyone in the office was evacuated safely. His wife would not hear from him again until he emerged from the building hours later.

"We knew the emergency exit procedures and people did a very good job of following them," he said. "Roselle" led him through the disheveled office and to the stairwell to begin the long decent, sometimes guiding, sometimes following behind him when things were tight.

Although they didn’t feel anything, Michael estimated that the second plane had struck the other tower when they were somewhere around the 50th floor. "By the time we reached the bottom, it had become very hard to breathe," he said. "We were both very hot and tired. ‘Roselle’ was panting and wanted to drink the water that was pooled on the floor. "

They continued walking away from the building. They were about two blocks away when Tower 2 began to collapse. "It sounded like a metal and concrete waterfall," he said. "We started running for the subway." "Roselle" remained focused on her work and he kept his commands simple. When they emerged and were making their way from the scene, Tower 1 toppled, showering them with ash and debris. "Roselle" guided him to the home of a friend in mid-Manhattan where they stayed until the trains were running again. He finally returned home to his worried wife at 7 p.m.

When we spoke with Michael on the day after the tragedy, he said that they were both feeling stiff and sore, but were otherwise fine. "Roselle" had been sleeping for a lot of the time, but would get up occasionally and play with Michael’s retired yellow Lab guide, "Linnie." Michael said, "For me the saddest part was talking to the firemen as they were coming up the stairs—that’s what I’ll always remember most."

Editor’s note: On behalf of everyone here at Guide Dogs—our hearts go out to all who have had a personal connection to these tragedies, and our heartfelt thanks go out to all who have lent their lives or their efforts to assist those in need.
[http://urbanlegends.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://web.archive.org/web/20011111085616/http://www.guidedogs.com/news-Hingson.html]

Friday, September 14, 2001

Faithful Dog Leads Blind Man 70 Floors Down WTC Just Before Tower Collapses

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 airlinerstruck 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 Timesreport 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."

Mr. Rivera and a little hero.

(Photo: REUTERS / Caracol Tv)

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."

[http://urbanlegends.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://dogsinthenews.com/issues/0109/articles/010914a.htm]