Endal: How one extraordinary dog brought a family back from the brink

Endal: How one extraordinary dog brought a family back from the brink
Sandra Parton

Allen Parton

The remarkable story of Endal, voted ‘Dog of the Millennium’, and how, through his remarkable skills, companionship and unstinting devotion, he gave Allen Parton a reason to live again.Allen Parton was seriously injured while serving in the Gulf War. He lost the use of both of his legs, plus all memories of his children and much of his marriage. He was left unable to walk, talk or write - isolated in his own world. After five years of intensive therapy and rehab, he was still angry, bitter and unable to talk. Until a chance encounter with a Labrador puppy - Endal - who had failed his training as an assistance dog on health grounds. They 'adopted' each other, and Endal became Allen's reason to communicate with the outside world, to come to terms with his injuries, and to want to live again. Not content with learning over 200 commands to help Allen complete everyday tasks like getting dressed and going out to the shops in his wheelchair, Endal gave Allen the ability to start living again, and to become a husband and father again in his own special way. This is the incredible story of Allen, his wife Sandra, and his family. And, of course, Endal.

ALLEN & SANDRA PARTON

ENDAL

How one extraordinary dog brought

a family back from the brink

WITH GILL PAUL

Copyright (#ulink_7a1e7ac8-f896-5234-9142-d0a3ffe53129)

HarperTrue

HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF

www.harpercollins.co.uk (http://www.harpercollins.co.uk)

First published by HarperCollinsPublishers 2009

Copyright © Allen and Sandra Parton 2009

Allen and Sandra Parton assert the moral right to be identified as the authors of this work

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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Ebook Edition © AUGUST 2012 ISBN: 9780007322718

Version: 2018-08-23

Dedication (#ulink_c786ae09-8451-5071-a970-fadf6ba39c95)

To Liam and Zoe.

Also, to the 900,000 servicemen and women in Britain today who were injured serving Queen and country, and in memory of all those who didn’t return.

Contents

Cover (#ub20e4aa2-a29f-5f55-a19f-c81f13219d16)

Title Page (#uaae161f8-ba04-5871-88e8-df6c1efea92a)

Copyright (#uf255570b-4600-53f3-a886-d53ac768f4bf)

Dedication (#u736fc7e4-0076-5ade-8acd-4d35e612c413)

Foreword (#u177ebb22-927d-506b-9c94-b27eb9c72145)

CHAPTER ONE: Allen (#u2669d1f3-1a2a-51a7-b6eb-a0e24b33be9c)

CHAPTER TWO: Sandra (#u803bddc0-5bfa-554b-afdf-b31d206fa444)

CHAPTER THREE: Allen (#ud5d1dccf-1dbe-525e-94af-2843107815f9)

CHAPTER FOUR: Sandra (#u9c3b7118-67b8-5d4c-8e88-ab7e49c088c6)

CHAPTER FIVE: Allen (#u848410ae-21ac-563a-be0e-5b7539c5375d)

CHAPTER SIX: Sandra (#u271509a1-7967-500b-9450-6dd24267d42b)

CHAPTER SEVEN: Allen (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER EIGHT: Sandra (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER NINE: Allen (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TEN: Sandra (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ELEVEN: Allen (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TWELVE: Sandra (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Allen (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Sandra (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Allen (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: Sandra (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Allen (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Allen (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER NINETEEN: Sandra (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TWENTY: Allen (#litres_trial_promo)