The events happened in Bogota, Colombia. A blind man aided by his service dog boarded the bus for route 135 in the Engativá sector, however, after the disabled man took a seat, the bus driver parked the bus and started a heated conversation with the blind man and other passengers.

The driver refused to offer the public service to the blind man as long as the dog was on the bus. He demanded the dog to be inside a crate, be left at the bus stop or placed in the bus’s locked luggage compartments. However, bus passengers who knew the law defended the blind man and his dog.

In the video you can hear passengers call the driver’s demands absurd. During the heated discussion, commuters called the driver “ignorant” and said he had no right to refuse service. All service animals and their owners have a constitutional right to board public transportation.

The confrontation got so intense that transit security officers were called to the bus’s location. A woman also tried to improvise a muzzle and see if with the driver would restore service, but even with that solution the driver refused to move the bus.

After a while the driver came to his senses – thanks to the passengers’ reaction and support towards the blind man – and the bus continued his route.

Sitp representatives said in a press release they will train their employees better.

Carlos Parra, director for country’s blind association told Caracol News he was ashamed of the driver’s actions but unfortunately Colombia’s blind citizens face this type of discrimination daily. Parra also said he was proud of his fellow country men and woman for standing up against the bus driver and not allowing such injustice to take place.

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Gurney told the Daily Mail he felt when Emma was knocked by something and pushed onto his leg. At that time he used his cane to grab the attention of whoever or whatever hurt his dog, and that’s when he tapped the back of the vehicle with the cane. Once the driver felt the tapping the vehicle came to a stop, but if Gurney had not done this, he and his dog could have been killed.

A woman who witnessed the event said the driver was going on reverse and jumped the curve hitting the dog. Emma was taken to a vet hospital and was found with minor bruising, Gurney fortunately did not suffer any injuries.

A police report was made at the time and authorities said the driver would be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention, however, days after the accident, authorities informed the blind man that the charges against the driver were dropped. The taxi driver’s action was “a lawful maneuver” over a dropped curb.

“How can it be legal to reverse onto a pavement and hit a guide dog?” wonders Gurney, but to make matters worse, police officers also informed the blind man he could face claims for property damages since the car suffered dents from the cane.

Gurney believes it is unfair he could be penalized for something he had no control off and the cab driver should instead face charges.

“If it had been a toddler or someone not too steady on their feet it could have been a lot worse,” said Gurney. “It was possible the cabbie would continue reversing if I hadn’t stopped it. Even if it was lawful it can never be right to reverse into a person.”

The woman who witnessed the accident wrote to the taxi company to complain about the treatment Gurney and his dog have received, but the transportation business has yet to respond or comment.

Gurney says Emma’s insurance has covered for all medical bills, but that money could have been used towards training other guide dogs. The service dog seems to be a lot more wary around traffic and continues to do her job, however, Gurney fears he Emma might have to go into forced retirement due to the mental trauma she experienced.

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As Williams regained consciousness, he heard someone telling him to be still. Emergency workers put him on a stretcher and pulled him from the subway, and made sure the dog was not badly injured.

‘I’m feeling amazed,’ Williams said. ‘I feel that God, the powers that be, have something in store from me. They didn’t take me away this time. I’m here for a reason.’

Police said both Williams and the dog were taken to a hospital where they were expected to recover. Williams says he is not sure why he lost consciousness, but he is on insulin and other medications.

Orlando, a seriously laid-back dog, was at the hospital making new friends — and he will be rewarded with some type of special treat, Williams said, and will be given plenty of affection and scratches behind the ears.

Williams, of Brooklyn, has been blind since 1995, and Orlando is his second dog. The lab will be 11 on Jan. 5, and will be retiring soon, Williams said. His health insurance will not cover the cost of a non-working dog, so he will be looking for a good home for him.

If he had the money, Williams said, ‘I would definitely keep him.’

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