A reason to get up in the morning and fight
- Written by Jan Cobley
In November 1999 I was diagnosed with a critical and difficult condition-----I spent a large proportion of the next year in and out of Hospital and in my bed. In Sept 2000 I had surgery that would remove one problem but leave me with another one that would haunt me forever.
My condition is very difficult to manage, called hypoparathyroidism---I had my parathyroid glands removed. It seemed so simple at the time, take them out problem solved. However managing it involves regular blood tests with them dictating the number of pills I then have to take to keep me alive and functioning.I was advised not to travel alone, not to become stressed, basically all the advice seemed to say I was to lay on the sofa. I went from a highly active lady mid a Law Degree, albeit aged 54, to a couch potato.
The symptoms involve much pain, inability to walk, inability to even know who I am at times—the list of side effects is too long. I panic about the daftest things which I would never have done pre 1999. Change the manufacturer of my tablets as the pharmacy just did and I spend a week in bed. Leave me with irregular meals and my tablets do not function correctly and I collapse. The easiest way to cope with it all was to do what I was told. I was advised by my Consultant to give up my degree owing to my failing ability to remember the cases. So that was it.
At the time I had my wonderful Bearded Collie Lennie and my equally wonderful Old English Sheepdog Sandy. We had a converted farm in The Algarve which we used to escape to----we discovered that when there, my medication input was lower. Eventually in 2004 we moved here.
To précis---having moved to retire we were persuaded to open a Pet Supply Shop (www.paws4pets.net) selling first the Burns pet food. The news travelled fast and the shop and business blossomed. Good times and bad.
I was still very much captive in my HPTH. We had arrived with a baby Old English Sheepdog Chloe who is an angel. Time moved on, Lennie had Addisons Disease and he had been ill all his life and whilst I was laying on the terminal ward in 1999 it was him that I fought for, how would he cope without me. Well he didn’t have to BUT sadly in July 2005 I had to cope without him as he died aged 14 on July 17th, my soulmate was gone.
My ‘reason to be’ was gone. I grieved for over 6 months, switched off from the world, crying, my condition was not helped. I was offered and accepted another Beardie pup but could not cope with it, every time I saw the picture it was Lennie and I was in hysterical tears.
Eventually thanks to a good friend, Laura, I was persuaded to look at a Portuguese Water Dog. 48 hours later I came home with Ibn Harun Coral an 8 week old bundle of black fur. She was to change my life. 
We christened her Cleo, she was the cutest puppy, intelligent and ready to learn---she was not Lennie but she was adorable. A few months later Laura suggested we show our Porties, her pup was one week older than Cleo. I had never shown a dog in my life other than the odd fun show with Lennie.
In order to take on the shows Laura had to take on me and all my problems, my medic alert, my panics, my tears and look after me. I had for a few years not been anywhere without one of my family with me—it was daunting. However, In spite of being half my age Laura took all this on. In August 2006 when Cleo was 8 months old and on my 60th Birthday we went away to Sintra, many miles away, for a show. This involved living with people I did not know, and the show ring which I had never been in. Having Cleo at my side pushed me on.
My first show with a dog at 60---convinced I was the oldest ‘elephant’ trying to run around a ring! A really helpful gentleman took pity on me and helped me all weekend, and the ‘icing on the cake’ was Cleo won the Best Puppy in the PWD Speciality. I was hooked.
Laura continued to take me to shows and gradually we both discovered what we had to do---remember all is in Portuguese a language we do not speak efficiently, or at all, in the beginning, we were the only English speaking handlers. The Portuguese Judges and Stewards have been absolutely wonderful and supportive.
In December 2006 I rescued Cleo’s Brother---the breeder was breeding their poor Mother on each season, he had put this little boy into a pet shop at 8 weeks old. When I rescued him at 4 months old he could not see, walk, stand, eat, play and he was about 6kgs underweight. We called him Merlin.
A mere 4 months later won 3rd place at a show—quite an achievement. Both these gorgeous dogs continued to gain wonderful remarks and placings at the shows BUT it was actually having to keep them groomed and get to the shows that was helping me to cope with my condition.
In May 2007 these two qualified at the Madrid Show for a place in Crufts the following year. I had never shown a dog at Crufts and really could not comprehend either getting them there or showing them there. However, this became a mission—I was to make sure I was well enough to achieve the impossible. Drive with my Daughter from The Algarve to Birmingham with my 2 PWDs.
Against all the odds, including Cleo coming into season 6 weeks early at Valladolid in Spain, we got there and back in one piece. Not only that but both dogs were placed, more than I had dreamed possible.
I continued to battle on with them both. Cleo became a Portuguese Champion, Gibraltar and International Champion. Merlin is still waiting. He became very ill in July 2009 and after much research was diagnosed as Hypothyroid, which is easily treated. This condition is basically linked to his awful first four months of neglect. However I basically stopped showing him. He has had yet another bad few months, a prostate that swelled to about 20 times its normal size. Blocked him completely he could not pee pr poo and was in so much pain—it was like de je vu as Lennie suffered this at the end of his life, Merlin was not yet 5 years old and too young to suffer like this.
After 4 weeks of medication to reduce it down he had to be castrated on 21st June, so his show days are over. However as I write months later, he has had his beautiful long coat clipped, he is swimming daily and is a happy and completely different dog, so playful. He is devoted to me and is the most amusing friend.
Cleo has developed beyond my wildest dreams. She went on to win many Best in Shows locally, Reserve Best in Show at the Speciality and the best one was a weekend in Gibraltar when she won her Gibraltar Championship, International Championship and qualified for Crufts 2011. She has consistently, as has her Brother, managed to get the excellent grades and comments at the shows she attends. Cleo and I attended Crufts again in 2009 and 2011 and in 2010 I took my baby OES Cassie.
Cleo is highly intelligent and has taken on the job of assistance dog for me. This is HER idea entirely. She seems to have picked up on how ill I am. She is quite able to fetch me pills, she will fetch anything I need or help if I need it. When I became very ill downstairs in the house both Cleo and Merlin fetched my Husband for me---I did not ask them they just did it. When I collapsed ‘home alone’ I awoke to find Cleo laying on me licking my face, she would not leave me until I could get up again. She monitors me at the shows, she knows if I am struggling as I often do, I struggle to be able to stand or run. Cleo senses this and will not run but will amble around the ring---not the plan at all and will not gain either of us any points.
However, the Judges here are aware of it. Sometimes it is just so much of a strain to get to a show that my ongoing condition takes over and stops me.
2011 visit to Crufts was another test of my will power and determination. I drove with the help of my good friend Anne, from The Algarve to the UK in my Fiat Panda with Cleo. We used the Santander Ferry, a first for me. Cleo had to go in the kennels which she was not too happy about as she prefers to be with me. On the return trip Cleo again showed her perception. We went up to check on her at about 4 in the afternoon, both Anne and I were confused by Cleo, she would not eat or drink, she was upset and agitated, kept very close to me, was on my lap—all 24kgs of her, she cried. Eventually I had to put her back in her kennel, I and we went back to the cabin. 30 mins later I collapsed with my low calcium. It became clear she was trying to tell me and I did not understand.
Since then I have taken more notice of her and she has correctly diagnosed my calcium inbalance many times. People have noted that you can see a difference with her, she watches me all the time, she is ‘on guard’ watching. She is distressed if we are parted, in The Algarve it is too hot for her to stay in the car whilst I am at the Doctors, in the supermarket or out to lunch so sometimes she has to stop at home. She really hates it. Cleo has had no training to help me and is not officially recognised as an assistance dog but she has taken on that role and I really feel much safer with her than without her by my side.
Cleo has taken on the ‘soulmate’ role from Lennie, he must have handed it to her. She is my constant companion and my support.With the help of Cleo and my family I have managed to bravely go to some shows on my own now. Even 2 years ago I could not have imagined doing any of what I now do. I feel secure with Cleo at my side as I know she will look after me, she will not let anyone harm me and she will not let me do anything that I cannot do.
I have to thank Cleo for giving me back my ‘reason to be’ and pushing me to defy the conditions that my HPTH puts on me. Yes my HPTH fights back, I have been known to curl up IN the cage with Cleo on duty at the door whilst I spend 4 hours trying to recover.
I have also in my care two Old English Sheepdogs, Chloe who is 8 years old and my baby Cassie. I returned to the UK to collect her at 10 weeks old and bought her back to The Algarve, she is now 3 years old and a joy. I now take her to shows with me and Cleo comes too, to look after me and show Cassie what she should be doing.
I am writing this in the hope that it will inspire other people to fight back from ‘the edge’, yes it is not ever easy, most times it is easier to not do something than to do it. I often have to force myself to take on challenges. I recently had to fly to the UK and back and travel around the UK on trains, on my own without Cleo and I have to admit I missed her very much. I feel safe with Cleo and can see why so many assistance dogs have given people back their freedom. Cleo has done that to me.
It’s funny that when in the UK I never went to Crufts---now I see it as my aim each year, a goal to set and hopefully achieve.
For any further information please ring Jan on 00351 916 273 376 or email janc@paws4pets.net
