I can just see you in the kitchen now cooking up another of your sumptious breakfasts for us, lysie!
While everyone is waiting to chow down, I thought this dog story I found in a UK paper would be a good way to start the day:
Movie tribute to Endal the Wonder Dog Sep 3 2009
MOST dogs get told how clever they are if they manage to fetch the paper or a pair of slippers.
But Endal the Labrador put even Lassie to shame. He could use a cashpoint, load a washing machine, post letters and help with the shopping.
And when his disabled owner almost died in a car crash, Endal saved his life by putting him in the recovery position, covering him with a blanket and barking to raise the alarm.
Endal died in March, but he’s now set to be immortalised in a Hollywood film.
And his owner, Gulf War hero Allen Parton, said yesterday: “I’m absolutely delighted. The movie is going to be very powerful. Endal truly was a wonder dog.”
Allen, a Royal Navy Chief Petty Officer, suffered terrible head injuries while serving in the Gulf in 1991.
When he came out of a coma, he couldn’t read, write or walk and didn’t remember he was married.
But the charity Canine Partners gave Endal to Allen as an “assistance dog”, and his new friend gave him his life back.
Endal could follow 200 commands. He could put washing into the machine for Allen and take it out when it was clean, and fetch his hat or razor.
When his owner went to the supermarket, Endal grabbed goods off the shelves in his teeth and put them in his basket.
And if Allen needed money, Endal could put his card in the machine and retrieve the card and cash. He even learned how to help Allen use a chip and pin handset, and once entered Allen’s IN for him using a pointer in his mouth.
“When I couldn’t speak, Endal could read my sign language,” Allen said. “He knew instinctively what to do.
“Endal was very gentle, nurturing me every day and encouraging me to do things. He was a good therapist.”
Allen, 50, believes Endal kept his marriage together by taking the strain off his wife, Sandra.
The faithful hound once stopped Allen from drowning by pulling the plug out when he blacked out in the bath.
And Endal’s finest hour came in 2001, when he saved Allen after the car crash. He was awarded the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals Gold Award, the highest honour the charity can give.
Endal, 13, had to retire this year because of arthritis, and Allen was devastated in March when his best pal started having seizures and had to be put to sleep.
But Allen now has a new helper dog, 16-month-old Endal junior, or EJ.
And the best-selling book Allen wrote about Endal is to be turned into a £5million movie. Producer Simon Brooks has bought the rights from Allen’s book publishers, and Calendar Girls writer Juliette Towhidi is already working on the script.
Filming is set to start next summer. Simon said: “It’s incredibly inspiring.”
Good morning.
What a heartwarming story. Thank you. We need more good news stories. That one will make my day. All my pets will get extra treats today.
Love love that story and good to see you also. Now I really have to scoot.