Blind evacuee reunited with guide dog

07:00 PM CDT on Friday, September 16, 2005

By Doug Miller / 11 News

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"Well, my name is James. James Mercadel."

KHOU

Jacob ran straight to Mercadel and licked his face as Mercadel laughed with joy.

Volunteers at the church shelter have helped James Mercadel find everything from new clothes to a new cane.

But what he needed most was an old dog -- his guide dog, Jacob.

"Having a dog like Jacob -- he brings back my independence," said Mercadel.

The pair used to wander around New Orleans together -- just walking or riding buses.

"I'd say,' Jacob, say goodbye.' He'd go, 'Woof, woof," Mercadel remembers. "And then everyone, it starts a conversation on the bus. 'Did you hear that dog say goodbye?'"

A lot of the conversation at the church shelter has been about finding Jacob.

Church members printed flyers explaining the National Guardsman who rescued the blind man from his house left his guide dog behind.

A church member got in touch with another National Guardsman and asked him to check Mercadel's flooded house.

"He called from the house and said, 'We have the dog,'" said Judy Livingston. "And it's like, 'You've got to be kidding.'"

So as Mercandel worked the phones this week to make arrangements for a new apartment, he also planned for a reunion with his beloved friend.

"It's just gonna be the biggest hug in the world and I'm gonna give him the most love he's ever had in his life," said Mercadel.

Friday, an evacuee who was leaving Louisiana offered to give Jacob a ride to Houston.

Mercadel and shelter employees waited anxiously for Jacob's arrival.

Jacob ran straight to Mercadel and licked his face as Mercadel laughed with joy.

"He looks beautiful," said Mercadel.

"Woof," answered Jacob as volunteers cheered and clapped.