Allen, Founder and Vice Chairman
It is with such a heavy heart that I sadly have to announce the passing of EJ (Endal Junior) on the evening of the 18th March 2022. Last night faithful EJ (Endal Junior) quietly slipped his berth and has left my side one final time.
The three musketeers, EJ, Rookie and ET are now two. He arrived alongside my wheelchair as an enthusiastic 8-week-old puppy and followed in Endal’s huge paw prints, staying just a month short of his fourteenth birthday. He was mentored by the big guy for 11 wonderful months and stepped up to the plate when Endal too left us. He was never ever in Endal’s shadow though and he trail blazed his own path and career winning so many hearts and minds around the world.
During his lifetime he attended over 5505 events helping raise awareness and funds for Hounds for Heroes but most importantly he unselfishly gave me such a quality of life and independence that I will never fully understand what it is that I had ever done to be so deserving of. Even on his very last morning he got me up and carried out his daily tasks with his usual enthusiasm. The cruellest twist of life is that dogs don’t live as long as us, so every precious second together is so very very special. If there has been a positive in the last two years of lock down EJ and I had two quality years without the pressures of life, just one man and his dog.
EJ became part of a double act with Reservist Dog Rookie and the two were constantly pictured around the country representing all that is good and special about assistance dogs
I am feeling devastated today knowing when my hand goes down to my side EJ is not there but Rookie too will miss his partner just as much. EJ’s final gift to me was mentoring young ET (Endal Three) these last nine months with a tolerance and kindness shown to him by Endal so many moons ago. I am so very proud to have had the privilege of having such a special dog at my side whose loyalty and devotion has enabled me to have such an amazing quality of life. Looking back through thousands of images it is very clear he had the most amazing life and lived it to the full. Meeting the Queen, 385 flights under his belt the list is endless.
I understand now that he was never just my dog and that I shared him with so many others. Till the very end his otter tail never stopped wagging and that loving lick always duly given. The world truly is a sadder place for his passing
Job well done dear EJ, rest now Always in my heart and memories, always at my side.