Loyal guide dog gets owner home from 120-mile journey before collapsing and dying

Daily Mail ^ | April 6, 2010 | Daily Mail Reporter

[DogByte6RER]

Loyal guide dog gets owner home from 120-mile journey before collapsing and dying

By Daily Mail Reporter

A loyal guide dog defied an massive tumour to get his owner home safely after a 120-mile trip before collapsing and dying.

Comet the Labrador retriever braved his painful condition so that David Quarmby, 61, could get home safely from his train and bus journeys.

Minutes after they arrived at Mr Quarmby's home in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, from Birmingham, Comet collapsed and died while being given anaesthetic by a vet.

Mr Quarmby said: 'He got me off the bus, across the road and up the drive. As soon as we got home, I took his harness off, he took a couple of sniffs and collapsed.

'Comet was a brave and marvellous dog who will be missed enormously, a very kind dog who got on well with everyone, the life and soul of the party.'

Mr Quarmby, who works for West Yorkshire Probation Service and is chairman of the National Disability Network, travels all over the country to attend various events.

He was at a conference in Birmingham on Tuesday when eight-year-old Comet started experiencing problems.

Despite showing signs something was wrong, he helped Mr Quarmby get the trains from Birmingham to Manchester and Manchester to Huddersfield and the bus to his home.

He said: 'When we got into Manchester Comet felt slightly sluggish and I thought he needed to go to the toilet.

[DogByte6RER]

Brave: Despite suffering a painful tumour on his spleen, Comet managed to get his master safely home after a 120-mile journey

[momincombatboots]

You forgot to add the burry screen alert. I cried buckets over marley and me and that was just a movie.

[little jeremiah]

That dog is more human than many two leggeds.

[hinckley buzzard]

I think Comet was a better man that Quarmby. Hotshot running his guide dog into the ground so he can prance around the country, following the limelight and drawing attention to himself.

[hellbender]

"Near this spot Are deposited the Remains of one Who possessed Beauty without Vanity, Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, And all the Virtues of Man without his Vices."

Epitaph to his Newfoundland dog Boatswain by Lord Byron. Labs are descended from Newfoundlands.

[MilspecRob]

To paraphrase the more I see of people, the more I like dogs.

[mamelukesabre]

What do you mean running him into the ground? It was all busses and trains. It’s not like the dog ran along side the bus.

[Jet Jaguar]

Ping.

[mom4melody]

When the kids are in the yard, our dog stands on guard on the porch, always scanning the area around the kids like a sentry.

When a car drives around the cul-de-sac that he doesn’t know, he stands up and barks at the kids.

Dogs are a gift from God, and I truly do believe all dogs go to Heaven (well, maybe not those nasty taco bell dogs).

BTW, our dog is an American Pit Bull Terrier, the best dog, hands down, we’ve ever had.

[RegulatorCountry]

From the description, it sounds as if Comet had hemangiosarcoma. It’s very aggressive, comes on quickly and is relatively painless, compared to other forms of cancer. That is, it is until the very late stages, when the spleen can rupture, leading to death. That’s what happened.

There’s not much that can be done for hemangiosarcoma, regardless of how much money you’re willing to spend. I’ve loved and treated my own lab for cancer, and became all too familiar.

Don’t give the man such a hard time, his dog was doing what he loved and what he was literally born to do, right up to his last breath.

He was doing what he loved, and he was loved himself, when he died. We should all be so lucky.

[digger48]

You forgot to add the burry screen alert

I'm blaming it on the pollen count today.. Yup, that's it....allergies.

[piytar]

I don’t tear up over dog stories. Heck, I rarely do over people stories.

Exception made...

[43north]

I wish we could elect Labrador Retrievers to Congress.

[a real Sheila]

Did you read the book?
It was a true story and OMG, I cried and cried!

Another doggie tear jerker-
“A Big Little Life” by Dean Koontz.

[RegulatorCountry]

Trixie, sweet little Golden. Koontz loved her so.

[guitarplayer1953]

My thought exactly did he not take the dog in for yearly checkups. Eight years old he was still a young dog.

[mamelukesabre]

IMO, of all the dog types in the world...labs are the most like humans(in personality). They eat too much. They get fat. They are smart. They hate being alone. They love cars. They love kids. They like being lazy, but they also like to work. They like the water. When required, they can learn just about anything.

Any mutt that is part lab is going to be a pretty good dog.

[mlizzy]

You forgot to add the burry screen alert. I cried buckets over marley and me and that was just a movie.

My screen is all blurry too. I couldn't watch Marley and Me for just that reason. Comet looks a little like Our Dog Tilly. They would have gotten along splendidly, even though Tilly wasn't exactly as well trained.

[potential blurry screen alert on above link]

[Sender]

"You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you, they will be there long before any of us." Robert Louis Stevenson

"Be comforted, little dog, thou too in the Resurrection shall have a tail of gold." Martin Luther

"If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans." James Herriot

"If I have any beliefs about immortality it is that certain dogs I know will go to heaven, and very very few people." James Thurber

[mplsconservative]

I wish we could elect Labrador Retrievers to Congress.

I loved your comment. We certainly would be better off than the demons in charge now.

I'll take a dog over a congresscritter anyday.

[Slings and Arrows]

Rest in peace, loyal friend.

[unkus]

I’m blaming it on the pollen count today.. Yup, that’s it....allergies.

---

Yep, my allergies are really getting to me right now, too.

[TheOldLady]

Stalwart boy. Amazing. Makes me ashamed that I get so cranky when I’m in pain.

[JouleZ]

I cried over “Marley and Me”, too. Then watched “My Dog Skip” with the same result the other day. RIP faithful and good pets.

[divine_moment_of_facts]

Don’t forget Mark Levin’s book “Rescuing Sprite: A Dog Lover’s Story of Joy and Anguish”.. I cried my way through it one night.. A must read for every dog owner!

[4woodenboats]

I think I’m gonna shut off the puter, make a treat for my Lab & spend the rest of the night watching TV with her...

[ASOC]

A dog owners paryer

LOrd, help to be the man my dog thinks I am....

[RedHeeler]

Good dog Comet. Good, Good dog.

[a real Sheila]

I meant to read that one also.
Thanks for the reminder.

Then again, do I really want to cry my eyes out again?
All dog stories end the same way :-(

[a real Sheila]

“I wish we could elect Labrador Retrievers to Congress.”

Wouldn’t THAT just be AWESOME!
We would have fun, lovable, loyal members of congress who would do us no harm! All they would want in return is a belly rub from their constituents and a milk bone.

Tennis balls for everyone!

[a real Sheila]

an evening well spent...

[divine_moment_of_facts]

There were a lot of good tears in there..

[green pastures]

Zoe, my dog, sent Trixie a letter and received a “paw-written” reply within about a week...

I still have it...

[Eaker]

Does your "friend" look something like this?

[RedHeeler]

Thanks for asking. Yes. Jack the Dog is my youngest, at 4yrs old. Yet, he is the unquestioned leader of my two older yeller labs- Horse and Beau. He is a benevolent 1Sgt to them and a great #2 to me. Great photograph. Is PitStop a friend of yours?

[Eaker]

Pitstop is two now and pretty much runs the other five dogs. He is by far the smartest dog I have ever had and was a great addition to the family.

I didn’t know what his disposition would be as he is 1/2 pit, but he is an absolute sweetheart and great with my 6mo grandson.

Take care,
Eaker

[Allegra]

Pitstop is two now and pretty much runs the other five dogs. He is by far the smartest dog I have ever had and was a great addition to the family.

That Pitstop gooses me every time I come over to y'all's house. ;-)

I love Pitstop - he's an awesome dog!

[Eaker]

Imagine how much fun this many PitStops would be!

[thackney]

BTTT

[RedHeeler]

Great shot. My girlfriend saw this and immediately said, “Don’t even think about it!” Thanks to you, I now have a new bargaining position. That new fishing boat, may yet be mine. Beautiful grandson, Mr. Eaker. Well done. Thanks.

[VermiciousKnid]

JouleZ, I’ve warned my kids that ALL dog movies are four-hankie jobs, including the “happy” ones like “My Dog Skip,” so if they’re going to watch them, they’d better be prepared for some tears.

Second place? Horse movies.

BTW...the dog in the story is a winner all the way. Good boy, Comet!

Regards,

[JouleZ]

“Second place? Horse movies.”
______________________________

I know!!! I have 4 horses right now and one mare and her colt are rescues with a sad story. Life is real harsh sometimes. Thanks for your comments, Vermi.