Frank Lopez, News10's 2005 Teacher of the Year, was walking with his guide dog, Nolan, on El Camino, crossing Folsom Road when he heard a dog approach from behind.
"I could hear the nails from his paws running on the concrete and then I heard Nolan whimper," said Lopez, who is legally blind and takes Nolan to school with him.
Lopez said he tried to get his body in between the Rottweiler and Nolan when a second dog attacked.
It wasn't until a bystander and the dogs' owner ran out to intervene that the attack on Nolan stopped.
"I could feel he was bleeding really badly," said Lopez, who was also injured when he fell during the attack.
Nolan was taken to the El Camino Animal Hospital, where doctors immediately operated on his ears - a surgery that had an upfront cost of $1,400. In the surgery room, the veterinarian said his injuries were not life threatening, but it was unclear if Nolan could resume work immediately as a guide dog.
"He didn't leave me. He didn't even try to run away during the attack," said Lopez. "He just stayed by my side the whole time and didn't even think about protecting himself."
Nolan is a 3 year-old yellow lab from Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael. Lopez has had Nolan for two years.
"I had to use my cane for the first time in two years," said Lopez. "I'm really fortunate to have Nolan. I depend on him for a lot of things. I kinda feel naked without him."
(News10 - Oct 1, 2011)
