Mummy Update.

This is Mummy logged in to tell about today's developments:

The recent visits from the lovely Guide Dogs Birmingham Mobility Team members have all been about assessing myself and Oakley and our working partnership. The usual expected working life for a Guide Dog is generally until the age of about 10, as long as the dog is healthy and happy and still working well. Occasionally, this can continue to a little older and sometimes the dog's career comes to an unexpectedly early end.

In our case, for some time, Oaks has been categorised as a 'high mileage dog'. This refers not only to the actual physical miles that we have walked together, but also to the incredible hard work that he has done in guiding me through so many huge challenges. Our lifestyle as nomads on the waterways is by no means a 'normal' one for a Guide Dog Partnership. He has risen to the phenomenal challenge of guiding me in a relentless succession of new places and often difficult environments. All of this is super-exceptional work on his part. He has been unspeakably incredibly amazing!

All this, added to by his recent health scares and newly developed anxieties, have given rise to much discussion, heart searching, assessments, meetings and huge dilemmas. The result of which is the conclusion that he is very ready to step down to an early (he was 8 last week) but well deserved retirement.

This afternoon's phonecall from the Guide Dogs Mobility Instructor (GDMI) Jenna was to confirm that, following today's team meeting, I am now officially on the waiting list for a new dog. The timescale is a little elastic, but she is hoping that it will be a matter of weeks rather than months, for the right dog to be found. This, in itself, is a tall order, because Oakley will be an incredibly difficult act to follow, but they are pulling out the stops to find his successor.

Of course, this comes with massively mixed emotions for us. It is one of those situations that is wished never to come. But come it has and, despite deepest desires and wildest wishes, Oakley's welfare has to come first. He has been showing ever increasing signs that he has had enough of working, although, of course, he still steps up when necessary. He has worked his paws off for me over the last six years and so totally deserves a good time of relaxation and fun.

Until very recently, we had been absolutely sure that we would keep him in his retirement. However, recent changes in him; in particular his increasing anxieties about noises that happen aboard the boat when moving along, have forced us to reconsider. We simply HAVE to do what is right for him, not what is least painful for us. It would, of course, be our hearts' desires to keep him because we adore him and he is part of us, but that would not be best for him in the circumstances.

We are currently awaiting definite confirmation, so won't say where or who yet, but we do know that he will be going to a fantastic retirement where he will be adored, spoiled (appropriately!) and given the BEST life possible. Also, we will be able to keep in touch and see him from time to time (after a sensible settling in period first).

We don't know yet exactly when this will be - but it is likely going to be very soon.

I am writing this post with an incredibly heavy heart, but with the relief of knowledge that Oakley is soon to be able to enjoy himself in long walks in the woods, lots of playtime with another dog that he loves, with a new pair of human 'parents' who adore him, and a lovely home to get all the rest and relaxation that he so totally deserves.

Very soon afterwards, I will then begin the challenging adventure of training with a new young dog. A daunting prospect indeed!

As I have already said, Oakley is a really tough act to follow and I know that there will never be another dog quite like him. He will forever remain my incredible life-changer; The dog who has not only done the job he was trained to do, but started off by lifting me out of the depths of suicide-contemplating depression, and then has literally saved my life on many occasions and gone on to transform my expectations, capabilities, confidence and perhaps even my personality. He has also touched the lives of so very many other people too - and seems to have wormed his way into countless hearts!

Guide Dog Oakley really is one very special dog!!