Cecil Williams was seen cuddling his guide dog, Orlando, while lying on a hospital bed. The incident happened after he fell from the subway platform onto the tracks on Tuesday.
In New York, the heroic guide dog who jumped onto subway tracks to save his blind owner is set to retire and find a new loving home. His owner hopes to have both a working dog and a retired pet, but if that’s not feasible, the organization that raised him is eager to welcome him back with open arms. Guiding Eyes for the Blind spokeswoman Michelle Brier said the family is overjoyed that their “little baby” has made such a significant impact.
According to Williams, he could not afford to take care of Orlando since the dog was no longer working, so he was actively seeking a new home for him. While Guiding Eyes offers free working dogs, they cannot cover the expenses of retired dogs. However, after the Associated Press published an article featuring Williams and Orlando in his hospital room, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center has been receiving inquiries from people who want to offer assistance and donations. The hospital has decided to let Guiding Eyes handle those inquiries. Williams is still unsure if he can handle taking care of two dogs and may need financial assistance if he decides to do so. Brier stated that Williams is currently going through a difficult and emotional time.
In an emotional interview from his hospital bed, Cecil Williams recounted the terrifying incident in which he fell onto the subway tracks along with his guide dog, Orlando. However, there is some good news to come out of this story – an organization is setting up a fund to support not only Williams and Orlando but other guide dogs as well. The money will be posted on the organization’s website and will be put to use wherever it is needed most. Despite the close call, Williams and Orlando are both expected to make a full recovery. Witnesses at the scene reported that Orlando’s heroic actions may have saved Williams’ life by barking and kissing him to encourage him to move out of the way of the approaching train.
A dog was hailed as a hero after it saved a blind man who fell on the subway track. The man, identified as Williams, said that he is recovering but unsure how long he would be in the hospital. He mentioned that his head still hurts from the staples and has bruises on his body. The medical team is trying to determine the cause of his fall by conducting further tests.
