Westcliff woman, 83, devastated after beloved guide dog dies

MP Anna Firth, BBC local radio presenter Justin Dealey, and Jill Allen-King with Jagger

A campaigner for blind people has been left devastated after the loss of her former guide dog and companion, Jagger.

Jill Allen-King, from Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, said Jagger had to be put down on Thursday.

The 83-year-old said she has always had a guide dog and is worried she will now lose her independence.

She has been waiting nine months for a new companion since Jagger was retired from service in June.

Mrs Allen-King fully lost her sight at 24, and since then she has campaigned for better access rights for blind and partially sighted people.

She came up with the idea for textured pavements at road crossings and was given an OBE for services to disabled people.

Jill Allen-King and Southend MP Anna Firth meeting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at an event for community champions

Jagger was Mrs Allen-King's first male guide dog after having six females previously.

"When each one had died, which is devastating in itself, I had always had another dog ready," she said.

"I am so, so angry... there are 1,200 blind people like me waiting,"

The Guide Dogs charity said the average waiting time for a guide dog is about 16 months, but that "individual waiting times can vary significantly".

"We are now making good progress to return our guide dog service back to where we were pre-pandemic," a statement read.

"We are really sad to hear about Jagger, and send our condolences to Mrs Allen-King."

Mrs Allen-King said Jagger, who was 11, was put to sleep after he had "been unwell for a couple of weeks".

"It is horrible telling everybody because he meant so much to so many people," she added.

"He has even been abroad and on three cruises with me, he was the star of the ship.

"When I won the Pride of Britain [Lifetime Achievement award], Paul O'Grady presented me with my trophy but he also presented Jagger with his own medal for his work as a guide dog."