| Quin's Quest Back to Quin's Quest |
 Gillian
writes:
"Well, the day we had been looking forward to and dreading in equal measure finally arrived. Time to see Quin working and doing the job he has been trained for but also time to say goodbye and cut the emotional chord." |
 "We
went into Wokingham to see Quin work. Jackie, Quin's trainer,
explained what would happen and what we
should do to avoid distracting him.
We followed him round the town at a
discreet distance. He concentrated so well, listening and taking
everything in. He looked at the pigeons but passed by without a
pause. When he did well his trainer would give him an
encouraging pat and each time he wagged his tail.
We watched him negotiate street furniture, pedestrians and busy roads. He did everything perfectly and we were so proud. Phew! All that hard work we did was certainly paying off. |
|
When we got back to the car
park we were allowed to go up to him. He looked and looked as though
he couldn’t quite believe it but when we whispered his name he went
crazy, leaping up and down and squealing with delight. Jackie could
hardly hold onto him he was so excited. We went back to the centre and had lots of lovely hugs and cuddles. He was so excited he kept making a squeaking noise. It was so wonderful to have him in my arms again and to feel him snuggling. I saw and remembered all his funny little ways, sitting on my lap, the way he held his ears when he was happy, the little noises he made when he was talking to me. He has grown and matured into a handsome dog who is going to be superb at his job but underneath all that, he is still my little boy. The bond of love may be stretched but it will never be broken. Now the euphoria of the day is beginning to wear off and the realisation is sinking in that I may never see him again - but that is the deal. We start them off so that they can go on to make a huge difference to someone's life and Quin certainly will. He will be a lifeline for a young man who has been waiting for a dog for so long. I am proud to have been a part of that. I am proud of having had the opportunity to work with such a wonderful dog and when he retires I will be banging on the doors begging them to let me bring him home. The young man Quin is going to is totally blind. He is their highest priority and has been waiting for almost two years for the right dog, which just goes to prove how special Quin is. Quin will be starting to work with him sometime in September and if all goes according to plan, after dedicated training, he may pass in November. We will update you when we hear any news and will of course announce when he passes." G and T |