Endal
Encyclopedia
Endal was a male Labrador retriever
in Britain
whose abilities as a service dog
and as an ambassador for service dog charitable work have had considerable news media
coverage.
Among other distinctions, Endal had been described as "the most decorated dog in the world" (including "Dog of the Millennium" and the PDSA’s Gold Medal
for Animal Gallantry and Devotion to Duty, the highest award available to an animal) and the most famous dog in the UK, had been filmed by over 340 film crews from around the world, and had a number of world "firsts" as an assistance dog to his credit.
yellow Labrador retriever
. Unusually, Endal suffered from birth from the lifelong debilitating joint condition osteochondrosis
in both of his front legs, which brought his suitability for assistance dog
training into question. However, with the help of a specialized diet and controlled exercise, Endal qualified as a fully operational assistance dog. He became the service dog
for disabled
ex-Royal Navy
Chief Petty Officer
Allen Parton in the late 1990s.
Endal's fame led to his taking on the role of an animal ambassador
for service dog related training and charities.
On the 13 March 2009, aged thirteen and days after his last Crufts
appearance, Endal had to be put down
as finally his age had caught up to him. He had suffered a stroke
, and his arthritis had become severe over time. He was buried at Ilford PDSA Animal Cemetery
, which is also the resting place for twelve previous dogs awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal
, predecessor to the Gold Medal. A yellow Labrador puppy named EJ (Endal Junior) was in training at the time, whom Endal mentored during his final 9 months.
from the Gulf War
, including 50% memory loss
and inability to reliably make new memories for more than around 2 days (for example, not recognising his neighbour of 7 years duration), physical disability
(he is a wheelchair
user), speech and word difficulties, inability to perceive items that cannot be seen, and inability to safely judge speed and distance of traffic. For a considerable time after partnering Endal, he was unable to speak and was limited to basic sign language
. In 2008, commenting on a portrait of Endal, Parton said that one of his greatest fears was that, in 10 years, he would be unable to remember what Endal looked like. In February 2010, Allen registered a new charity, named Hounds for Heroes
in memory of Endal and to help men and women who have been injured in the UK Armed Forces and Emergency Services.
, retrieve the card when the process was complete, and return the card to a wallet.
| "When I couldn’t talk, he learned sign language – if I touched my head I wanted my hat, if I touched my face it was for the razor. He learned hundreds of commands in signing. Eventually one day, in this very silent world we lived in, I grunted. That was like an electric shock going through him, he was so excited. They said I’d never speak again, but Endal just dragged the speech out of me." Able Magazine.
|}
The above Able Magazine article continues by noting that "Over the years, Endal has learned to pull the plug out of the bath before going for help if Allen falls unconscious whilst bathing, and is able to put Allen in the recovery position, hit the emergency button on the telephone and summon help ... Endal has learned how to use cash and chip and pin machines, as well as helping out with the shopping, opening train doors, operating lifts, unloading the washing machine and more typical doggie skills like getting the paper."
Parton states that Endal's ability to comprehend his wishes and needs showed when they first met, and was responsible for helping him recover from the initial deep depression and trauma caused by his disability.
Endal came again to national attention in a 2001 incident, when Allen was knocked out of his wheelchair by a passing car. Endal pulled Allen, who was unconscious
, into the recovery position
, retrieved his mobile phone
from beneath the car, fetched a blanket and covered him, barked at nearby dwellings for assistance, and then ran to a nearby hotel to obtain help.
Endal is also:
of the charity
Canine Partners, Endal's owner/handler
Allen Parton, publicised the skilled training which is needed for assistance dogs by using the story of Endal as an example. Allen and Endal were both patrons of Labrador Rescue South East and Central.
According to a description of Endal by Allen at makeyourdogahero.co.uk:
news papers and shown on the BBC
Endal's life story, based around the Endal book, is now being made into a £5 million movie
Simon & Schuster
Atria imprint
, 2000. . ISBN 0-67104-735-3, ISBN 978-0671047351 |quote= }}
are known for. As examples he cites that Endal would still decide at times to chase squirrels in the park, or might take waste paper out of the rubbish bin to Allen, in order to gain a reward for "picking it up from the floor".
Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. A breed characteristic is webbed paws for swimming, useful for the breed's original purpose of retrieving fishing nets. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog by registered ownership in Canada, the United...
in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
whose abilities as a service dog
Service dog
A service dog is a type of assistance dog specifically trained to help people who have disabilities including visual or hearing impairment, and also to help people with mental disabilities including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and severe depression...
and as an ambassador for service dog charitable work have had considerable news media
News media
The news media are those elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public.These include print media , broadcast news , and more recently the Internet .-Etymology:A medium is a carrier of something...
coverage.
Among other distinctions, Endal had been described as "the most decorated dog in the world" (including "Dog of the Millennium" and the PDSA’s Gold Medal
PDSA Gold Medal
The PDSA Gold Medal is an animal bravery award that acknowledges the bravery and devotion to duty of animals. It was created by the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals in 2001, and is now recognised as the animal equivalent of the George Cross...
for Animal Gallantry and Devotion to Duty, the highest award available to an animal) and the most famous dog in the UK, had been filmed by over 340 film crews from around the world, and had a number of world "firsts" as an assistance dog to his credit.
Endal
Endal was a pedigreePurebred
Purebreds, also called purebreeds, are cultivated varieties or cultivars of an animal species, achieved through the process of selective breeding...
yellow Labrador retriever
Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. A breed characteristic is webbed paws for swimming, useful for the breed's original purpose of retrieving fishing nets. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog by registered ownership in Canada, the United...
. Unusually, Endal suffered from birth from the lifelong debilitating joint condition osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a family of orthopedic diseases of the joint that occur in children and adolescents and in rapidly growing animals, particularly pigs, horses, and dogs. They are characterized by interruption of the blood supply of a bone, in particular to the epiphysis, followed by localized...
in both of his front legs, which brought his suitability for assistance dog
Assistance dog
An assistance dog is a dog trained to aid or assist a person with a disability. Many are trained by a specific organization, while others are trained by their handler .-Classification:...
training into question. However, with the help of a specialized diet and controlled exercise, Endal qualified as a fully operational assistance dog. He became the service dog
Service dog
A service dog is a type of assistance dog specifically trained to help people who have disabilities including visual or hearing impairment, and also to help people with mental disabilities including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and severe depression...
for disabled
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
ex-Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
Chief Petty Officer
Chief Petty Officer
A chief petty officer is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards.-Canada:"Chief Petty Officer" refers to two ranks in the Canadian Navy...
Allen Parton in the late 1990s.
Endal's fame led to his taking on the role of an animal ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
for service dog related training and charities.
On the 13 March 2009, aged thirteen and days after his last Crufts
Crufts
Crufts is an annual international Championship conformation show for dogs organised and hosted by the Kennel Club, currently held every March at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England. It is the largest annual dog show in the world, as declared by Guinness World Records, and lasts...
appearance, Endal had to be put down
Animal euthanasia
Animal euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, an animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress...
as finally his age had caught up to him. He had suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
, and his arthritis had become severe over time. He was buried at Ilford PDSA Animal Cemetery
Ilford Animal Cemetery
Ilford Animal Cemetery is an animal cemetery in Ilford, London, England, containing over three thousand burials. It was founded in the 1920s and is operated by the PDSA. The cemetery was closed to new burials in the 1960s and gradually became neglected and overgrown. In the early twenty first...
, which is also the resting place for twelve previous dogs awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal
Dickin Medal
The Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 in the United Kingdom by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in war. It is a bronze medallion, bearing the words "For Gallantry" and "We Also Serve" within a laurel wreath, carried on a ribbon of striped green, dark brown and pale blue...
, predecessor to the Gold Medal. A yellow Labrador puppy named EJ (Endal Junior) was in training at the time, whom Endal mentored during his final 9 months.
Allen Parton
Endal's human partner was Allen Parton. Parton suffered serious head injuriesTraumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injury , also known as intracranial injury, occurs when an external force traumatically injures the brain. TBI can be classified based on severity, mechanism , or other features...
from the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, including 50% memory loss
Memory loss
Memory loss can be partial or total and it is normal when it comes with aging. Sudden memory loss is usually a result of brain trauma and it may be permanent or temporary. When it is caused by medical conditions such as Alzheimers, the memory loss is gradual and tends to be permanent.Brain trauma...
and inability to reliably make new memories for more than around 2 days (for example, not recognising his neighbour of 7 years duration), physical disability
Physical disability
A physical disability is any impairment which limits the physical function of one or more limbs or fine or gross motor ability. Other physical disabilities include impairments which limit other facets of daily living, such as respiratory disorders and epilepsy....
(he is a wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
user), speech and word difficulties, inability to perceive items that cannot be seen, and inability to safely judge speed and distance of traffic. For a considerable time after partnering Endal, he was unable to speak and was limited to basic sign language
Sign language
A sign language is a language which, instead of acoustically conveyed sound patterns, uses visually transmitted sign patterns to convey meaning—simultaneously combining hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to fluidly express a speaker's...
. In 2008, commenting on a portrait of Endal, Parton said that one of his greatest fears was that, in 10 years, he would be unable to remember what Endal looked like. In February 2010, Allen registered a new charity, named Hounds for Heroes
Hounds for Heroes
Hounds for Heroes is a British charity launched in February 2010 to help train and provide service dogs to wounded British Armed Forces and Emergency Services men and women.-Background:...
in memory of Endal and to help men and women who have been injured in the UK Armed Forces and Emergency Services.
Work as a service dog
Endal was able to respond to over one hundred instructions as well as a very large number ("hundreds") of signed commands. He could retrieve items from supermarket shelves, operate buttons and switches, and load and empty a washing machine. He was able to put a card into an automated teller machineAutomated teller machine
An automated teller machine or automatic teller machine, also known as a Cashpoint , cash machine or sometimes a hole in the wall in British English, is a computerised telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public...
, retrieve the card when the process was complete, and return the card to a wallet.
-
- {| style="border:1px solid darkgrey" width="90%"
| "When I couldn’t talk, he learned sign language – if I touched my head I wanted my hat, if I touched my face it was for the razor. He learned hundreds of commands in signing. Eventually one day, in this very silent world we lived in, I grunted. That was like an electric shock going through him, he was so excited. They said I’d never speak again, but Endal just dragged the speech out of me." Able Magazine.
|}
The above Able Magazine article continues by noting that "Over the years, Endal has learned to pull the plug out of the bath before going for help if Allen falls unconscious whilst bathing, and is able to put Allen in the recovery position, hit the emergency button on the telephone and summon help ... Endal has learned how to use cash and chip and pin machines, as well as helping out with the shopping, opening train doors, operating lifts, unloading the washing machine and more typical doggie skills like getting the paper."
Parton states that Endal's ability to comprehend his wishes and needs showed when they first met, and was responsible for helping him recover from the initial deep depression and trauma caused by his disability.
Endal came again to national attention in a 2001 incident, when Allen was knocked out of his wheelchair by a passing car. Endal pulled Allen, who was unconscious
Unconsciousness
Unconsciousness is the condition of being not conscious—in a mental state that involves complete or near-complete lack of responsiveness to people and other environmental stimuli. Being in a comatose state or coma is a type of unconsciousness. Fainting due to a drop in blood pressure and a...
, into the recovery position
Recovery position
The recovery position refers to one of a series of variations on a lateral recumbent or three-quarters prone position of the body, in to which an unconscious but breathing casualty can be placed as part of first aid treatment.An unconscious person The recovery position refers to one of a series of...
, retrieved his mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
from beneath the car, fetched a blanket and covered him, barked at nearby dwellings for assistance, and then ran to a nearby hotel to obtain help.
Endal is also:
- The first dog to ride on the London EyeLondon EyeThe London Eye is a tall giant Ferris wheel situated on the banks of the River Thames, in London, England.It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over 3.5 million people annually...
. - The first dog known to be able to operate a Chip and PINChip and PINChip and PIN is the brandname adopted by the banking industries in the United Kingdom and Ireland for the rollout of the EMV smartcard payment system for credit, debit and ATM cards.- History :...
ATM card, including both card insertion and card removal.
Awards
| Year | Awards |
|---|---|
| 2000 |
|
| 2001 |
|
| 2002 |
Kennel club A kennel club is an organization for canine affairs that concerns itself with the breeding, showing and promotion of more than one breed of dog... 's "Gold Good Citizen" award, presented at Crufts Crufts Crufts is an annual international Championship conformation show for dogs organised and hosted by the Kennel Club, currently held every March at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England. It is the largest annual dog show in the world, as declared by Guinness World Records, and lasts... dog show Conformation show Conformation shows, also referred to as breed shows, are a kind of dog show in which a judge familiar with a specific dog breed evaluates individual purebred dogs for how well the dogs conform to the established breed type for their breed, as described in a breed's individual breed standard.A... 2002 PDSA Gold Medal The PDSA Gold Medal is an animal bravery award that acknowledges the bravery and devotion to duty of animals. It was created by the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals in 2001, and is now recognised as the animal equivalent of the George Cross... (the UK equivalent of the George Cross George Cross The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations... ) awarded to animals who have shown outstanding devotion to their duties in peace time. ( only 18 animals in the UK, all dogs, have been awarded this medal) |
| 2003 |
Blue Peter badge A Blue Peter badge is a much coveted award for Blue Peter viewers, given by the children's television programme for those appearing on the show, or in recognition of achievement... , the highest award for "outstanding bravery and courage". One of only two ever awarded to dogs (the other was the Blue Peter dog "Bonnie" in 1991). |
| 2004 |
|
| 2005 |
Crufts Crufts is an annual international Championship conformation show for dogs organised and hosted by the Kennel Club, currently held every March at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England. It is the largest annual dog show in the world, as declared by Guinness World Records, and lasts... dog show Conformation show Conformation shows, also referred to as breed shows, are a kind of dog show in which a judge familiar with a specific dog breed evaluates individual purebred dogs for how well the dogs conform to the established breed type for their breed, as described in a breed's individual breed standard.A... Runner up "Hero Dog of the Year" |
Work as an ambassador for service dog charitable work
As a trusteeTrustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
of the charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
Canine Partners, Endal's owner/handler
Dog training
Dog training is the process of teaching skills or behaviors to a dog. This can include teaching a dog to respond to certain commands, or helping the dog learn coping skills for stressful environments. Dog training often includes operant conditioning, classical conditioning, or non-associative...
Allen Parton, publicised the skilled training which is needed for assistance dogs by using the story of Endal as an example. Allen and Endal were both patrons of Labrador Rescue South East and Central.
According to a description of Endal by Allen at makeyourdogahero.co.uk:
- "Another more private role is Endal's work with autisticAutismAutism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
and terminally illTerminal illnessTerminal illness is a medical term popularized in the 20th century to describe a disease that cannot be cured or adequately treated and that is reasonably expected to result in the death of the patient within a short period of time. This term is more commonly used for progressive diseases such as...
children. Endal has represented the charity Canine Partners, is a patron of Labrador Rescue, an advisor to Dog Theft Action. He has been used to promote many issues to do with animal welfareAnimal welfareAnimal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals.The term animal welfare can also mean human concern for animal welfare or a position in a debate on animal ethics and animal rights...
and has also helped raise funds for many of the service charities such as SSAFASSAFA Forces HelpSSAFA Forces Help is a British based charitable organization set up to help former and serving members of the United Kingdom British Armed Forces and their families or dependents...
, the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust, British LegionThe Royal British LegionThe Royal British Legion , sometimes referred to as simply The Legion, is the United Kingdom's leading charity providing financial, social and emotional support to those who have served or who are currently serving in the British Armed Forces, and their dependants.-History:The British Legion was...
and Seafarers UKSeafarers UKSeafarers UK is a large national charity in the United Kingdom working to unite the maritime charity sector to address the specific needs of all seafarers and their families, from those just embarking on a career at sea to those facing distress through unemployment or homelessness and loss of...
." organisation
Endal book
A paperback book entitled Endal, ISBN 978-0-00-730300-7, published by Harper Collins was released on 9 February 2009 and went straight to Number 5 in the UK Paperback best sellers list.Endal the Movie
Formally announced on 1 September 2009 in the Daily Telegraph, Portsmouth NewsPortsmouth News
Portsmouth News is the only paid-for newspaper in Portsmouth, England. It is produced by Johnston Press, owners of Portsmouth Publishing & Printing at their headquarters in Hilsea, Portsmouth...
news papers and shown on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Endal's life story, based around the Endal book, is now being made into a £5 million movie
Media recognition
As reported by 'Able' magazine in 2007, Society]]'s Dogs With Jobs TV series and in the book about the series.Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
Atria imprint
Imprint
In the publishing industry, an imprint can mean several different things:* As a piece of bibliographic information about a book, it refers to the name and address of the book's publisher and its date of publication as given at the foot or on the verso of its title page.* It can mean a trade name...
, 2000. . ISBN 0-67104-735-3, ISBN 978-0671047351 |quote= }}
Other personality attributes
Allen reports that alongside Endal's working life and training, he retained during his life a number of the mischievous traits that labradorsLabrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. A breed characteristic is webbed paws for swimming, useful for the breed's original purpose of retrieving fishing nets. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog by registered ownership in Canada, the United...
are known for. As examples he cites that Endal would still decide at times to chase squirrels in the park, or might take waste paper out of the rubbish bin to Allen, in order to gain a reward for "picking it up from the floor".
External links
- Millennium Dog: Endal's home page.
- Canine Partner Endal opens new a new state-of-the-art facility "The Sussex Canine centre" - an example of Endal's work as an ambassador for canine partners and training facilities.
- http://tv.sky.com/the-dog-saved-our-marriage - BskyB documentary and introduction to EJ
- Endal obituary, memories and condolences page at Dogs Today magazine
- Endal obituary, memories and condolences page at Ourdogs.co.uk
- Endal portrait unveiled - portrait by Nigel HemmingNigel HemmingNigel Hemming is a British artist, specialising in animal portraits and artwork. He was born in 1957 in Staffordshire. Initially a painter of birds, it was his paintings of dogs which became the more famous....
, a renowned UK animal artist. - Tribute to Endal at Lost & Fond online pet memorials website