Loyal guide dog gets owner home from 120-mile journey before collapsing and dying
By
Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 12:58 AM on 6th April 2010
A loyal guide dog defied an massive tumour to get his owner home safely after a 120-mile trip before collapsing and dying.
Comet the Labrador retriever braved his painful condition so that David Quarmby, 61, could get home safely from his train and bus journeys.
Minutes after they arrived at Mr Quarmby's home in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, from Birmingham, Comet collapsed and died while being given anaesthetic by a vet.
Partnership: Comet and David Quarmby had worked as a team for seven years before the dog's tragic death
Mr Quarmby said: 'He got me off the bus, across the road and up the drive. As soon as we got home, I took his harness off, he took a couple of sniffs and collapsed.
'Comet was a brave and marvellous dog who will be missed enormously, a very kind dog who got on well with everyone, the life and soul of the party.'
Mr Quarmby, who works for West Yorkshire Probation Service and is chairman of the National Disability Network, travels all over the country to attend various events.
He was at a conference in Birmingham on Tuesday when eight-year-old Comet started experiencing problems.
Despite showing signs something was wrong, he helped Mr Quarmby get the trains from Birmingham to Manchester and Manchester to Huddersfield and the bus to his home.
He said: 'When we got into Manchester Comet felt slightly sluggish and I thought he needed to go to the toilet.
Brave: Despite suffering a painful tumour on his spleen, Comet managed to get his master safely home after a 120-mile journey
'When he got on to the train he got under the the table like usual but wouldn't eat the treat I gave him - that's when I had an indication that something was wrong.
'When we got him home I let him off to got to the loo, he sniffed around a couple of times and then just collapsed - it was completely out of the blue. But he had braved it all to get me home.
'It was terrible when he died, it's like losing a part of you. You develop a very strong bond with your guide dog, it's a working partnership.
'It was all so quick, from me noticing something was wrong to the time when Comet died at the vet's was all within two-and-a-half hours.'
A vet was called after Comet, who had been with Mr Quarmby for seven years, collapsed.
He had a tumour on his spleen and nothing could be done to save him.
Mr Quarmby is now waiting for a replacement dog capable of travelling the long distances.
He said: 'I'm gutted. It is like losing a part of you when they are so close to you.
'He was my shadow, everywhere I went, he went.'
A spokesman for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association said: 'Our priority at this time is supporting David and his mobility needs over the coming weeks and months.
'This is an incredibly sad and unusual case.
'Guide dogs are bred and trained to transform the lives of their blind and partially-sighted owners and this case clearly highlights the strong bond between a partnership.'
R.I.P Comet. My eyes are leaking. Bless you little fellow.
Mr Quarmby I hope you will soon find a new partner to help you on your journeys. A dog's work is never done and their love never leaves you.
- I'm here, UK, 06/4/2010 09:21
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