City couple overwhelmed by Armagh kindness as injured guide dog comes home

Emily is more than just a guide dog. She is more than just a lifeline.

She is a friend. She’s family.

And this afternoon she has returned home to that family in Armagh – and they’re delighted to have her back.

Emily was knocked down in Armagh yesterday (Monday) afternoon and has spent the past 24 hours under observation at the vets.

Fortunately she has not sustained any broken bones and is now recovering well from minor injuries, a bandaged paw to show for her ordeal.

But Emily’s owner, Peter O’Kane, together with wife, Lenora, have been overwhelmed by the kindness and support of the good people of Armagh since the dramatic events of yesterday unfolded.

Both have spoken to Armagh I to thank everyone for their help, especially dog warden Ronan Hughes, who went above and beyond the call of duty.

Emily broke free in the Dobbin Street area at around lunchtime and both Peter and Lenora – who only married in October 2014 after meeting on Facebook three years ago – were beside themselves with worry.

And their situation was not helped because of their own mobility issues.

Peter is losing his sight and is registered blind, while Lenora walks only with the aid of a cane and also makes use of a mobility scooter, having been involved in an horrific road collision in her native California, in which four people tragically died.

Lenora told Armagh I both she and and her husband would be lost without Emily, who was provided to Peter last July by the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

The couple firmly believe that the cherished guide dog was making her way to the Palace Park when she was struck by a vehicle.

A frantic Lenora, who had been at a neighbour’s house, went looking for Emily and found her at the busy Friary Road.

But her phone was dead and she was unable to use it to summon help…