John Tovey - A Dog Called Dez--The Story of how one Amazing Dog Changed his Owners Life

P ACING UP AND down the room, I pressed the button on the speaking clock which was standing in the middle of the coffee table. Another few minutes and theyd be here. My hands patted over surfaces as I felt my way around the place doing a last minute check. The floor was clear. His toys were in the corner near his new bed. His food was bagged up and ready to go in the kitchen a fortnights supply in daily doses enough to keep him going. Everything was set and ready for his arrival; now all I needed was the man himself, my new guide dog Dez. From this moment on hed become my best friend, companion, confidant, eyes, ears and general life-saver. Hed be my Dez.

I flopped back down onto the sofa and sighed as I realised just how far Id come to reach this point. For a moment I doubted my ability to look after a dog, I had trouble looking after myself so how on earth was I going to look after a five-stone Labrador? Just getting out of the house would be a challenge and then thered be all that dog walking. I rubbed my head anxiously, was I up to the job? But as soon as I thought of him, a smile spread across my face. Of course I was, I couldnt wait!

In many ways Id been waiting for this all my life the moment I could take responsibility for someone else and now it had finally arrived.

Id walked a long and rocky path to get to this point. To be honest I was amazed I was still living and breathing to tell the tale. Up until now Id been hell-bent on destroying everything in my life and Id almost succeeded. Id been a selfish thug, not a nice person at all, but fate threw it all back in my face and now here I was, only something had changed because now I was blind. For the first time ever I felt vulnerable. After a lifetime of feeling angry at the world, I needed help.

The tables had turned and now I was at the mercy of others and I knew how it felt to be completely defenceless. Losing my sight and the ability to come and go as I pleased had floored me. My total loss of sight had quite literally knocked the stuffing out of me. I wondered if I deserved it, maybe this was punishment for all the bad things Id done. If so, I hoped and prayed that my new guide dog Dez would lead me to a better and happier place.

I pressed the clock again; another ten minutes had ticked by and still no sign.

Where could they be?

My hands knotted nervously in my lap as I tried to keep calm and stop the butterflies from rising inside my stomach. I thought how strange it would feel having someone to look after and love again. An animal gives you a kind of unconditional and trusting love that only they and perhaps children can give. Id already experienced this with my son James, a wonderful boy, despite his old man. Luckily, James had had a great mum in my ex-wife Tracey, and so had grown up to be a brilliant young man. How had I got so lucky? In many ways, sitting there waiting for Dez felt like becoming a father for the second time. Only this time Id have to be his mum too. I allowed myself a little chuckle. If only my old skinhead mates could see me now, theyd think I was soft in the head. I was, and it felt fantastic.

But this wasnt our first meeting. Dez and I had met briefly before. My guide dog trainer a lovely woman called Emma Yard had pulled a fast one. In order to get my own guide dog Id been put on a waiting list. In the meantime, I trained hard for the day when I finally had a dog of my own.

One day, Emma took me out with another guide dog called Volley on a practice walk. Shortly after, we trained again. I presumed the dog shed brought along was the same Volley but I was wrong and she didnt put me right. Instead she observed and, although I couldnt see her, I guessed that shed nodded her head in approval. I shouldve realised from the start that this dog was different. For starters, unlike Volley he seemed a little more eager on the harness. He also had more character and walked faster along the street. By the end, I felt a little out of breath but totally elated at how well the training session had gone. In celebration, I stooped down to stroke who I thought was Volley but his fur felt different, kind of softer somehow. I smelt a rat.

John, Emma began. I thought I could hear mirth in her voice.

Yes, I replied, straightening up. Although I couldnt see her I automatically looked towards where her voice was coming from.

You know I said I might have a dog for you?

Hmm, I answered something fishy was definitely going on here.

Well, this is him. This is a dog called Dez, and I think hes the dog for you.

I put my hand to my mouth and gasped. Id been on the list waiting for my very own guide dog for over a year and he was finally here. Hed been walking with me for the past hour and I hadnt even realised.

Hello mate, I laughed as I bent down and reintroduced myself.

A grateful wet nose pushed against my hand.

Well, you kept that quiet, didnt you? I said, pretending to scold Emma who started to laugh.

John, I just knew how nervous youd get if I told you who you were really walking with. Dez is exactly the same and I couldnt have you both a bundle of nerves.

I chuckled some more and got down on my knees and tickled Dez behind the back of his ears. My gorgeous new buddy leaned in against my hand gratefully, loving all the attention.

What does he look like Emma? I was desperate to know.

Well, hes a gorgeous black Labrador, and right now hes looking at you with his big brown eyes.

Is he? I said holding out my hand to touch his face. From nowhere a big, wet, slobbery tongue licked the back of it.

I cant believe it, I said shaking my head. Really, is he mine, all mine, to keep?