Comments on: Famous Canine Partnership Comes to an Abrupt End

By: Celia Haddon

Celia Haddon — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 10:00:18 +0000

It’s sad to see this falling out and it is unnecessary. Canine Partners is a great charity and obviously has proceedures like all organisations, and thus has to be consistent with the proceedures. Obviously, if there is a huge demand for the disabled people to own their own dogs within Canine Partners, the people involved should lobby for a change in the charity’s rules by writing to the trustees. It’s possible to change charity objectives though it takes quite a lot of time and expense to do so. Meanwhile it’s still a marvellous charity and needs our support.
Meanwhile, Allen Parton can train his own dog. Why not? And why not set up his own charity if he believes service personnel need a separate one, rather than an established one. He is free to do this and I wish him well. I hope he succeeds in his ambition.
There is room here for everybody to do their own thing.
Celia
PS. On the whole the assistance dog breeding and training in the UK is far more advanced than the some of the US organisations. We should be proud of them.

By: terry knott

terry knott — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:51:00 +0000

Dear Magda,
My dog wears a Canine Supporters jacket, which as the name suggests, supports the Charity and raises funds.

She is not entitled to go into places that a registered assistance dog can go and I have never tried to pretend otherwise. I have to say I thought your comment, withouot the full facts, was a wee bit "catty" – we only do dogs.

I hope that those whose minds are not closed have now seen the light, but you can still write to me at terryk@caninepartners.co.uk

By: Magda

Magda — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:47:24 +0000

Terry Knott is quite correct to set out the guidelines for what constitutes a Canine Partner so that we can all appreciate the rigorous processes invloved in training a CP dog.

Why though, does his own dog wear a CP jacket to public events and occasions? Maybe the rules and regulations set down for Allen Parton and everyone else don’t apply to the chief executive of the charity.

By: Sincere

Sincere — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 01:38:16 +0000

I cannot believe the ingratitude of Allen Parton! This man is so arrogant to think that his partnership with Endal is superior and more special than any of the 120 other partnerships. He may have raised a lot of money and awareness over the years but so have many others who don’t push themselves forward on the back of a heavily embellished story from years ago! There are other partnerships where dogs have saved lives and all the dogs have enriched their partners lives in many other ways which would’ve been unimaginable before. I feel sorry for his wife having to endure yet another petulant tantrum from her husband – it’s embarrassing. I can say for a fact that it is affecting my life as the public have stopped me and asked what’s going on? I’ve told the truth. It’s very generous of Canine Partners to offer him support in training EJ although I can see no real need for it. His wife is more than qualified to work with him in that training. Allens needs are much less now than when Endal first came into his life (as he said they would be by the time Endal retired) so the level of training for EJ wouldn’t need to be so intense. Our dogs are owned by Canine Partners and we sign a document to that effect. It’s more detailed than that but the point needs to be made. We can never replace one dog with another and expect it to be the same. There is only one of any of our dogs. Another may be very good but will never be a clone of our first. I’ve learnt so much about dog training through my partner that I’ve been able to help many pet dog owners with basic obedience training. I don’t pretend to be an expert and never ask for money but gratefully accept any donation for Canine Partners should the owners be happy and so desire-and they all have! This is by way of giving something back to Canine Partners. If my partner was my one and only I would still support Canine Partners and stand by their ethics. I think the puppy parents comments are sour and where is that persons loyalty to the charty? Many do know that Endal didn’t go through the normal route so he’s already had the rules “bent” for him once in the early days which was obviously a mistake now in retrospect. He is so full of his own self importance and doesn’t like the fact that he can’t have his own way now! I hope he will see sense and give some thought to the damage he could be doing to a charity that in his own words – gave him his life back. Be grateful Allen (as we all are) and get on with your life and stop lashing out through bitterness. It doesn’t show you in a good light at all. It’s only my opinion (which we’re all entitled to) but how selfish can one person be?! You are making a fool of yourself and a mockery of your partnership with Endal.

By: Doobie

Doobie — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 22:39:09 +0000

I think we have seen more public appearances and photoshoots by EJ than is healthy for a young puppy. What a shock it was to see him wearing a CP jacket so young, thank you Mr Knott for allowing us to see “the other side” to this.

By: terry knott

terry knott — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:59:49 +0000

This is a sad business. Allen Parton was offered a replacement canine partner a year ago and declined, as he stated he no longer needed a full assistance dog.
Canine Partners is bound by British charity commission rules as to what it does and we have bent the rules to advise Allen on training his puppy and allowing him to attend classes, with our own youngsters. In normal circumstances we would have advised Allen to go to Support Dogs, who train private pets, but in this case, for some of the reasons described above (loyalty?), we decided to continue helping Allen.
However when Allen asked for a Charity jacket for his pet, we had to say “sorry, no” as we are also governed by the accreditation rules of Assistance Dogs (UK) and Assistance Dogs International, which lay down what dogs must do to qualify – and then we also have to abide by national Health & Safety rules on hygiene and health. Boring old rules? Maybe, but we have bent over backwards to help Allen and, to be honest, we feel betrayed by his blitz of abuse in the national press and on international blogs, when we have stood by him for 10 years and seen his old Dog, wonderful ENDAL, change his life around – along with the other 120 partnerships currently active.
There are two sides to every story Allen – please tell both.
Terry Knott
CEO Canine Partners

PS. Young EJ is not doing “the full training”, but only year 1 of a two year course. After that, who knows?

By: Puppy parent

Puppy parent — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:47:24 +0000

Little EJ (Endal Junior) has been on the Canine Partners puppy programme since he was six weeks old, he has attended everyone of his weekly classes, the same as all baby dogs. What is missed in all this is that Allan’s wife is the puppy operation manager for CP..so Allan and EJ get 24/7 instruction and help. I am also aware that the Parton family have puppy walked five dogs for canine Partners (four still active in partnership) Allan and Endal have been together for twelve years and a little knwn fact is Endal never underwent any advanced training..he went to Allan straight from a puppy parent at only 11 months old (that didnt stop CP using him througthout his career did it?). EJ without doubt is getting far more training than any other dog on the CP programme..seeing him work to Allan’s wheelchair at 25 weeks is just amazing. I guess these important facts are easy to over-look. The only difference between a Canine Puppy and EJ is that Allan owns EJ. In the USA most guide, hearing and service dogs are owned by the disabled person, the jacket though is owned by the assistance dog organisation. I guess for some very narrow minded folk out there don’t believe that disabled people are fit to own a dog. If anyone can make a complete success of this it is Allan. Allan is not someone arriving at the gate with a two year old dog asking for a jacket…EJ is undergoing the full training the same as all CP dogs

By: Caroline Clarke

Caroline Clarke — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:56:14 +0000

It’s not like me to join in such discussions, but I feel compelled to comment, after all, there are always 2 sides to every story.

In my personal opinion the “disengagement” of Alan Parton and Endal can only serve as a bonus for Canine Partners.

These people do the most amazing work!! I should know, my mother has one of their dogs and he hasn’t just changed her life, but my ENTIRE families.

The charity has every right not to jacket a dog they haven’t trained, why on earth should they? That would be like putting a me in a paramedics uniform and sending me out in an ambulance, at the very least its foolish and at worst -dangerous!!

There is of course the possibilty of negative publicity for such a worthwhile and hard working cause.

These dogs participate in longterm specialist training, and it would not be proper for an untrained animal to be out working like that.

I think the charity are well within their rights to refuse to jacket “EJ” and should be fully supported. I hope they continue to improve and enhance the lives of disabled people and their families for many many years to come.

By: It Happens To Us All

It Happens To Us All — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:01:04 +0000

Mr Parton and Endal are obviously no longer the flavour of the month.

Sadly like a lot of things, once you fall from grace, you are cast aside and they move on to the next media opportunity that comes along.

Good luck with your ex service charity, you have in a nutshell been treated by Canine Partners just the same as the military treats people!

By: B Morgan

B Morgan — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:33:52 +0000

I can see his point. I had the same problem with Seizure Alert Support dogs years ago who refused to use a new puppy I had because he was already alerting me of seizures and they said it was impossible and I would/must have confused him and for them to start again would not be logical!!!!!
Consequently I left the group and stopped supporting them and had a great working relation ship for 12 years with him and although not jacketed, I found many hotels, conference facilities and even shops allowed us access if contacted in advance and used supervision by a staff member in shops.
He lived to a ripe old age if 18 by the way. Not bad for a GSD