Graham Matthews

Angela Waghorn

“It’s been an honour and privilege to have looked after so many dogs and been introduced to their owners. The warm feeling of pleasure when a dog greets us or pulls their owner inside the house is priceless. At times I’ve felt like I should be paying the owners because of the joy and interest their pets give us.” When Graham Matthews began walking Nero, a trainee guide dog, he had no idea how life-changing this seemingly simple job would be. Once Nero passed on to his advanced training, the hole he left behind in Graham’s life was immense, and so Graham became a dog carer, offering a home from home to a wide range of canines – from rumbustious rescue dogs to languid labradors. “When Nero left for his advance training, I was so upset that I never took on another guide dog. When you’ve been up all night with the dog throwing up at both ends, cleaning up and lying on the floor, saying, Daddy wishes he could do it for you, well that’s not a dog, but a family member. Nero’s legacy lasted long after he had gone and it was an experience I wouldn’t have missed for the world.” It all Started with a Dog is a simple tale of dog walking experiences which are both funny and sad. Aimed at all dog lovers, it conveys the love and affection that passes between man and dog and shows that a dog really is a man’s best friend.

Angela Waghorn

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