Helper Dogs

I've had several encounters with helper dogs in the past couple of months, two of which seem noteworthy...

One evening I was having a chat with a colleage and he mentioned that his girlfriend occasionally came down with migraines. Late that night I boarded the bus to return home and sat behind a woman with a chihuahua on her lap.

During the course of the trip I learned that these dogs can be trained to recognize early signs of migraines, sometimes up to 30 mins before onset. Interesting coincident, I thought, given my discussion earlier that evening.

Later that week I was waiting on a subway platform and what should appear but several helper dogs being led around by obviously 'sighted' folks in a rather excited, though disciplined manner. I believe these dogs were being trained to become helper dogs.

My conclusion? None. It felt like quite the coincidence, discussing an issue I have little knowledge of, discovering that there's a type of dog that can precognate the issue, then running across a cabal that trains these creatures in the subway.