Nolan calls it a day

Actually I just called it for him, on his behalf, on veterinary advice.  It’s time for him to take off his “companion dog” hat, and put on his “retiree” one.

Nolan has just turned 11, which is quite long in the tooth for a labrador retriever, and has been working for the ADA (Aged and Disability Association) Retirement Cottages in Rylstone, then in Kandos, since he graduated from companion dog school, after failing at guide dog school, at the age of around 18 months.  He has given them wonderful service, and touched the hearts of all the residents, visitors, and staff, even those who didn’t like dogs.

He took his work very seriously.  When he arrived at work, after scoffing the left over porridge, he would put on his “work” mind set.  He realised how responsible his position was, and carried out his job to the utmost of his ability, whether it be licking someone’s hand, sitting next to their chair, guarding anyone who was ill, or assisting the residents out of the building in a fire drill.  He would also earnestly assist the residents eating their morning tea, or any other food matter that happened to be laying about, such as chocolate bars.  Obviously Nolan’s attitude to food often caused medical emergencies!  He was also abetted in this by some of the residents….some of them didn’t understand, and some of them just didn’t remember, that sausage rolls, fatty food, scones and cream, sweet biscuits were not the normal food of a dog.  Of course Nolan tried very hard to convince them otherwise, always taking the stance that he REALLY was starving, and how could they resist those pleading eyes?  After many bouts of tummy problems, including pancreatitis, the staff used to confine Nolan to a separate part of the building, when the residents were eating, and give him an appropriate snack, so he didn’t feel left out.  This of course didn’t stop the residents feeding him in their rooms, or him ferreting anything out that they didn’t put away carefully, so the staff had to be on their toes at all times.

As Nolan has got older, he has gone from “full time” 9 to 5 work to part time, to semi retired, in several stages.  He is becoming increasingly tired, and unable to cope so well with the demands of his job.  Everyone involved with Nolan has been aware that the day of his retirement would come, but because he loves his “oldies” so much, and they love him, everyone was trying to put it off as long as possible.  But that day has arrived, and I am waiting to hear from the management of ADA Cottage exactly how we manage the handover of ownership, cross the t’s and dot the i’s so to speak.

I am hoping that I will still be able to take him into the Cottage for short visits, and also enter into a similar arrangement at the local nursing home, attached to the hospital.  This of course will depend on the management, and how his health holds up.  He will also be available for any guest modelling at fashion parades or the like….

I have discovered a newly opened “leash free” dog walking area down near the river, where I have started taking him and Gypsy.  Because Nolan objects to walking up the hill on the way home from a walk, I was looking for a fairly flat area where I could drive to, so I could still get them out for walks.  Both the dogs think it’s a pretty good place, as there are plenty of things to sniff, and explore.  Then after about half an hour, they are happy to come home and have a nap.

Nolan is entering a new chapter in his life:  the last chapter, but hopefully not a short one.  He will be accompanied in this by his companion Gypsy, who seems to be making a career out of being a companion to elderly gentleman dogs:  she was companion to my beloved Albert, who died at the ripe old age of 17.  So she is quite used to the quirks of older dogs….  Of course, there is also Max, who is prepared to put up with both of them, as long as he gets the best place in front of the heater, and the best chair to sit on.

Now that Nolan is entering a new phase of his life, and has to settle into a new routine, it looks as though I will have to as well…but then, that’s what mothers do, isn’t it?….go with the flow….