A pedestrian and his Seeing Eye dog, both struck by a vehicle in Morristown on Saturday, “are doing okay,” according to Jim Kutsch, president and CEO of The Seeing Eye Inc. in Morris Township.
Kutsch said on Sunday that he had spoken with the victim, identified by police as a 61-year-old Morristown resident.
The man was evaluated at Morristown Medical Center, and his dog was examined by a veterinarian at the Morristown Animal Hospital. Both were sent home, Kutsch said.
Police reported the accident occurred at the intersection of South and DeHart streets, in the DeHart crosswalk, at 9:20 a.m. Shoshon Jackson, 54, of Succasunna, was issued a summons for failing to yield to a blind person crossing at an intersection.
If the victim requests it, instructors from The Seeing Eye will evaluate whether the accident has traumatized the dog, Kutsch said.
“It’s not always the case where something needs to be done,” he explained. However, after an accident, some dogs “become too cautious. You can’t have a dog so cautious that it will never step into the crosswalk.”
Graduates of The Seeing Eye own their dogs upon completion of the school’s program. They make all decisions pertaining to their dogs, Kutsch said.
“One of our founding principles is to treat our people with dignity and respect. If [Saturday’s accident victim] wants help from the school, we certainly would provide it. But we would never force it.”
