Endal the wonderdog's road to immortality receives street tribute
Wonderdog Endal, who was credited with saving the life of a veteran who returned from the first Gulf War with a serious head injury, is to be forever remembered in Hampshire.
A road on a housing development in Clanfield, built on fields where he was taken for walks, has been named "Endal Way" in his memory.
Endal's former owner, Allen Parton, 52, hopes those who live on the estate will be blessed with what Endal stood for - "hope, companionship, loyalty, support and independence".
The yellow Labrador became Mr Parton's assistance dog when he returned from war with little memory and limited speech. He was his trusted companion up to his death three years ago.
"My life was a jigsaw puzzle blown up in the Gulf War, Endal brought those pieces back to me," said Mr Parton, who has used a wheelchair since his injury.
"He saved my marriage and brought me back to my children. He was the cleverest dog in the world.
"Without him Sandra and I wouldn't be together today, I'd be alone on a war pension not knowing which day was Christmas."
"He was a phenomenal chap, he was the most decorated peace-time dog."
One of the yellow Labrador's greatest achievements was being crowned Dog of the Millennium after learning to use a cash machine.
Endal had seen his owner struggling to get close enough to the machine to put his card in and see the screen.
"In a split second I saw a flash of yellow and he did it," Mr Parton said. "The only thing was, when he went into a bank in Portsmouth he wanted to take everyone's money out."
Endal was also awarded the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) Victoria Cross for saving Mr Parton's life after a hit and run car accident on the way home from Crufts.
Endal pulled a blanket over Mr Parton, managed to retrieve his mobile phone and hand it to him so he could raise the alarm.
The dog could go also into a crowded pub on a Friday night holding his owner's wallet "and bark until he was served", Mr Parton said.
"I'm sure Endal's looking down with great pride. There isn't a day when I don't miss him," Mr Parton said.
Endal became the inspiration behind the charity Hounds for Heroes which aims to give support dogs to injured and disabled personnel from the armed forces and civilian emergency services.
Mr Parton now has support dog EJ, or Endal Junior, who Endal trained.