Dying guide dog's last act led owner safely home

Comet, a Labrador retriever, braved his condition so that David Quarmby, 61, could get home safely.

Minutes after they arrived at Mr Quarmby's home in Huddersfield, 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 when Mr Quarmby noticed eight-year-old Comet was not his usual self.

But Comet, despite showing signs something was wrong, 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.

"When he got on to the train he got under the table like usual but wouldn't eat the treat I gave him – that's when I had an indication that something was wrong.

"When we got him home I let him off to go to the loo, he sniffed around a couple of times and then just collapsed – it was completely out of the blue. But he had braved it all to get me home.

"It was terrible when he died, it's like losing a part of you."

A vet was called after Comet, who had been with Mr Quarmby for seven years, collapsed. He had a tumour on his spleen and nothing could be done to save him. Mr Quarmby is now waiting for a replacement dog capable of travelling the long distances.

A spokesman for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association said: "Our priority at this time is supporting David and his mobility needs over the coming weeks and months.

"This is an incredibly sad and unusual case."