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Calendar boy at age 84
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| Portrait of Endal, as he appears on the 2009 calendar. |
WELL, all is not quite as it seems - 84 years in human terms but only 12 in canine years. Endal, the Dog of the Millennium, has been recalled from his retirement as an assistance dog to once again take his place in the world famous Dogs Today calendar. Endal appeared in the very first one in 1999 and has appeared in a further three, each time as assistance dog of the year. As the outright winner of the Life Time of Devotion category Endal appears on the February pages of the 2009 calendar.
Endal's appearance in the 2009 calendar was more poignant because only 18 weeks previously the vet had offered to put 12 year old Endal to sleep due to a serious decline in his health. Not an option that his owner Gulf war veteran Allen Parton accepted, instead choosing to manage Endal's condition on a day-by-day basis. They have both been rewarded by a massive health improvement in the right direction.
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| Allen and Endal - accepting life on a day-to-day basis. |
"I had always promised everyone that I would care for Endal in his old age and I just wont be robbed of that opportunity" said Allen. "I owe Endal what is an unrepayable debt for his years of unconditional love and devotion. Endal has always had joint problems which we have overcome, but sadly this has now manifested itself as severe arthritis in his front joints.
With the right regime of pain management and exercise we have found a comfortable plateau for Endal and he now really does have a bright and positive future to look forward to. He still helps me in the house," said Allen, "and shows no sign of wanting give up caring for me."
Allen said that "To see Endal looking so alive and alert at the photo studio last week was just absolutely amazing and quite emotional for me too..I am so proud of Endal - despite all his problems he still manages to pull it out of the bag. He just never lets me or his fans down. He was just so relaxed and chilled out during the shoot - a shining example to his protegé EJ who he is mentoring as his replacement and who was watching from the wings.
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