I was so moved by all the lovely tweets, fb messages and comments about my tribute to Vale that I’m writing another post about her adventures.
Vale didn’t wear a gentle leader – in fact, I had no cause to find out what they were till Chelly came along with all her boisterous attitude to life.
However – if Vale had worn one – the following story might not have occured.
Vale, as I said in my previous post would steal openly – if she could fit it in her golden jaws, in it went!
She stole from pet shops! She even lifted a donut from a baby once – much to the angry shouts and complaining from the baby’s attendant:
“Ooo, that guide dog’s stolen the baby’s donut!”
“Ah,” says I
“Sorry about that – here, let me buy another one, so sorry, how much was it?”
(huge sigh)
“Don’t worry! guide dogs shouldn’t do that though!”
I wait till they’ve gone and give way to unconcealed mirth.
“Vale, you shouldn’t do that!”
She never listened.
One day – I was in Asda and I felt her head move – but when I checked her mouth there was nothing in it.
I was in town with Dad a day later when I got a frantic call on my mobile from Mum.
“Nicki! I don’t want you to panic, but Vale’s stolen a bar of dark chocolate from my room, – I’m at the vets with her now!”
Of course the first thing I did was panic.
I rushed to the vets and they were pumping Vale’s stomach.
As you may or may not know, dark chocolate is particularly toxic to dogs – any type of chocolate is a definite no-no, but dark is lethal!
When we were ready to collect Vale the nurse said:
“In a way, it’s a good thing Vale did eat that chocolate!”
“Why?” I asked
“We found the inside of a kinder egg, the plastic toy still in its casing. If she’d not eaten the chocolate, and had her stomach pumped, it would have lodged in her intestine and killed her!”
Everyone has been more careful about storing chocolate now!
Vale even won an award – not for stealing, but for learning 3 routes in 10 weeks. I was in a play which was put on in Glasgow and Manchester – and Vale and I stayed in 3 separate accomodations. She dutifully found her way too and from work each day – only getting lost once (and that was more owner error than her(
she won guide dog of the year for work above and beyond the call of duty.
She really was a golden star!
Chelly’s not without her capability for stealing – but she does it in a more suripticious way.
A friend came to stay once – and Chelly immediately went to her bag, pulled out her wallet and handed dropped it at my feet.
My friend said it was almost as if I’d trained her to do it!
I’m just so greatful to have been given two wonderful and special dogs.
