This week The Bark published a post I wrote for them about guide dog Roselle and her blind partner Michael Hingson. The pair were on the 78th floor of
Tower One of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. They worked in tandem to get out safely, taking 1,463 steps one at a time. From my post on The Bark blog:
I met Michael Hingson five years after the September 11 tragedy. He and I were in Raleigh, N.C., with our guide dogs, both of us presenting at a 2006 conference for people who work in blind services. Michael’s speech about experiences with Roselle on 9/11 wowed the crowd.
“You have got to write a book!” I told him at the hotel bar after our presentations.
Michael was way ahead of me, of course. He was already working on a book. We kept up with each other via email after the conference, and Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero by Michael Hingson with Susy Flory was published by Thomas Nelson Publishers last month.
I interviewed Michael over the phone for The Bark story, and he said that Roselle’s guide work after 911 was fine, she did not seem traumatized. Not at first, at least.
Two years later, however, Roselle’s body started attacking her blood platelets. Michael’s beloved yellow Labrador Retriever was diagnosed with immune mediated thrombocytopenia. He was able to control the disease with medication, but after a while the medication and the stress of guide work got to be too much for Roselle. She retired from guide work in March of 2007.
While it would be absurdly presumptuous to compare Harper’s life here in Chicago with the unbelievable trauma of 911, Roselle’s story, along with my life with Harper the past ten months, tells me that dogs, like humans, can take a while to process trauma.
Here’s what happened to us: On a cold day back in January, Harper stopped at a busy Chicago intersection, I listened, heard the traffic going straight at our parallel, and commanded “forward!” The woman driving the van said later that she didn’t see us. Maybe she was on her cell phone as she made that right turn. Texting? I have no way of knowing, because I couldn’t see her, either. Thank goodness Harper was watching. He saved our lives, pulling us away from the van with such force that I fell backward, cracking the back of my head on the concrete. Later on, when Mike inspected Harper’s harness, he discovered it was bent.
Harper worked fine for weeks after the accident. It wasn’t until a month or two later that he started showing fear around traffic. A Seeing Eye trainer came out to help in April. A second trainer visited in August. A third trainer was here last week, and after observing Harper’s behavior on the street (tail between his legs, head down, panting, trembling) he doesn’t doubt that the near-miss last January is the cause.
So, can dogs suffer from something like post-traumatic stress disorder? Thanks to Roselle and Harper, Michael Hingson and I are alive to tell you. Yes. They can.
Wow! Shortly after 9/11, I remember hearing about the guide dog and how she saved her owner. It’ll be good to read the book. I am sorry to hear of Harper’s fears but am so glad he managed to prevent a tragedy. I am curious about how the trainers suggest you can help him recover from that near miss. He certainly sounds like a special dog.
He *is* a special dog, Sheila. So special that he takes his work to heart. One thing we’d been trying with Harper after the accident was clicker training. I’d click the clicker every time Harper got me to the end of a block without cowering. He understands that the click means “you got it!” and he knows that the sound of the click means he gets a small treat.
This worked for a while before I broke my foot — Harper hardly ever cowered anymore, he was in such a rush to get to the end of the block to collect his reward! He also seemed to understand that he didn’t get the click if he tried to turn left or right before we get to the end of the block. I don’t click the clicker until I can feel the curb or curb cut with my feet. The lack of a click tells Harper that he has to adjust position to hear his click. Then, and only then, does he get his food reward
Since getting my cast off, Harper has been resisting accepting a treat at the end of the block. We struggle and struggle to get to the end of a block, and once he finally, finally gets me to the curb I click the clicker, offer him a treat and he turns the other way. He is so focused on his fear that he cant’ eat, won’t accept atreat . That’s saying a lot for a Lab –he really is frightened.
Hi Beth,
I am so glad that Harper was able to protect you from that van. What are your next steps with him? Do the trainers believe that he will be able to move forward from this and not be as fearful? I hope so. Take care.
Maureen Naset
Afraid trainers are running out of ideas…
…plus very difficult to work with Harper when he is so frightened, I don’t like putting the poor guy through all that.
Hi, Beth,
Have you ever heard the Dog Whisperer? People seem to love him or despise him. I’ve watched many of his sessions on TV and think he’s a genius although his methods can be hard for others to duplicate. He treats each dog and dog owner with respect and with consideration for their abilities. I don’t know if he is still making “house calls,” but you might want to check into that possibility.
I have a few ideas– Has anyone taken Harper for a walk without his harness? How is he? If he’s not so scared, I’d suggest that he go without you and without his harness for a few weeks. Maybe give him a few very special treats on some of these walks and lots of praise but only when he’s acting normal. I think any fear response should be ignored and no one should act as if they are worried or feeling sorry for him. He is probably picking up on the anxiety you and Mike are feeling due to the near miss and the broken foot.
I am having trouble with this message box. I am NO EXPERT but if you want a few suggestions give me a call:815-938-2275.
Mike has tried taking Harper out on leash without me, but Harper balks and cowers with him, too. At first we thought it was because Harper was worried about leaving me behind and wanted to come back home to check up on me, but more and more it seems Harper is afraid of the streets even when he is just walking on leash with Mike. And dare I say.. perhaps Harper is Agoraphobic?
Oh, poor Harper. I had no idea this happened! Glad you’re both safe and sound.
I’m excited to read Thunder Dog. Thanks for letting me know about it. Several times during the retrospecives yesterday, I heard about this Seeing Eye dog who led his owner to safety. I almost forwarded you the articles…ha ha. I should have known you’d be way ahead of me.
just curious, did the lady in the van realize after you fell what happened? apparently she stopped or did someone alert her? So scary. Way to go Harper. Sorry to hear you are having a hard time, buddy.
The lday *did* stop, and for that I am grateful. She kept repeating “I didn’t see you! I didn’t see you
!” as I kept
Oops, hit the “publish comment” button too soon there. The lady *did* stop, and for that I am grateful. She kept repeating “I didn’t see you! I didn’t see you!” while I kept asking “How is my dog? Is my dog alright?” After onlookers assured me Harper was alright, I fell into a weird scared trance –I kept saying “I’m frightened! I’m frightened! I’m frightened”over and over again.
Strange. I don’t say the word “frightened” out loud very often.
The lady offered to give me her phone number and/or call an ambulance, but after I collected myself I assured her I was alright, and Harper guided me home. Now I wish I’d taken her phone number after all, perhaps she’d be able to call the Seeing Eye and explain exactly what happened there, maybe that would help them figure out Harper’s fears? Dunno.
Beth, reading your post in the Bark led me to another post in that magazine about some of the rescue dogs of 9/11. Here is a NYT link to some pictures and stories if anyone is interested.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/08/14/magazine/14Mag-rescue-dogs.html?scp=1&sq=charlotte%20dumas&st=cse#1
Sounds as if Harper is having major issues. I am wondering what the experts expect you to do? Will they take him back for retraining? Assign you a different dog? A guide dog isn’t like a pet because you are relying on him; he shouldn’t need you to keep him safe and reassured since that’s his job. Do you think you’d feel safe with a different dog? You have a very good reason to be frightened after such a near miss. If my questions are too personal, just ignore them!
Oh, Sheila, your questions are not too personal. Remember: I wrote a memoir. My life is, so to speak, an open book. I appreciate your questions, as they give me fodder for a future blog post. Look for answers to these questions and more in a post I plan on publishing in early October. And most of all, THANKS so much for your conern.
I mean, concern.
Leave a Response