Because she’s more than just a dog.
This is your warning, this post is emotional, mushy, chaotic, and very dog-heavy. But if you know, you know. Some animals aren’t just pets, they become anchors. Saffron is mine.
Who is Saffron?
Saffron is my retired guide dog. She’s a Labrador cross Golden Retriever, she was born in 2014, and worked as a guide dog up until April 2024. She’s soft in nature but solid in presence, calm, steady, and endlessly patient.
She has the constant food obsession you’d expect from a Lab mix. Will she listen when you tell her to do something? Absolutely not. Will she become the best girl in the world the second she hears the rustle of a food packet? Without hesitation.
She doesn’t do tricks. She won’t give you her paw. She definitely won’t roll over. But she is so steady and reliable that she’s always off-lead and I never have to worry. If a dog barks at her, she is totally zen.
I can’t take any credit, Guide Dogs for the Blind did an amazing job raising and training her. She spent her working career guiding her previous owner safely around the streets of Cambridge. But when she started to lose focus and preferred sniffing over walking in a straight line (including helping herself to croissants from the Co-op), she made it very clear she was ready for retirement.
She was ready to be a full-time companion, and that suited us perfectly.
If you’ve ever wanted a dog but felt nervous about the time and training commitment or the unknowns of rescue, I really recommend adopting a retired guide dog. I might not have Saffron for as long as I wish I could, but I’m having the best time with her, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
Even my “I never want a dog” husband is totally besotted. Our cats are unphased by her because she’s so calm and steady. She’s a bit aloof, but honestly…..same.
She’s just turned 11, and she was so deeply loved in her old home. Her previous owner stays in touch with me because Saff is such a special girl. I’ve had dogs before, but Saffron is my dog of a lifetime.
(Which is probably down to the estimated £40k it costs to breed, train, and raise a guide dog. And yes, when she’s being a total goblin and rolling in something absolutely stinky, I do laugh about that price tag.)
Why She Means So Much
When I got Saffron, I didn’t just get a dog. I got emotional stability. I got reason to leave the house. I got a walking partner who never judged me, even when I was in meltdown mode.
She got me through:
- Public places when I wanted to vanish
- Daily routines when I felt too anxious to function
- Stressful days, fears and tears
She helped regulate my nervous system in a way I didn’t even realise I needed. Just stroking her, hearing her breathe, watching her nose twitch when she dreams – it grounds me.
She changed the way I relate to the world.
What She’s Like Now
Saffron is now retired and living the softest life I can give her. She has arthritis in her back legs, so she’s only allowed gentle excercise, which means we go slow, we sniff a lot, and we roll on as much grass as possible.
She goes to doggie daycare twice a week while I work in the office, which she absolutely adores. Although she doesn’t love the chaos of other high energy dogs, I think the stimulation is still good for her. Plus, she gets picked up and dropped off by someone she loves (shout-out to Betsy!).
Her daily routine involves classical music, frozen Kongs, and puzzle feeders. She barks a bit when I leave, but she always forgives me.
Why She’s Part of My Health and Fitness Story
She’s the reason I started getting outside again. Truly. On days when I would have stayed on the sofa, I took her out.
Now she’s older, it’s me looking after her, watching her gait, supporting her joints, making sure she’s strong. But she still gets me moving.
She’s helped me:
- Regulate my emotions
- Stick to gentle, regular movement
- Feel less alone in the world
She is also the reason I own five lint rollers and no black clothes.
Saffron in One Sentence?
She’s my constant in a world that never stops shifting.
I’m going to write more about how to care for older dogs, how I’ve adapted things for her arthritis, and why I think animals can be life-changing for people with AuDHD, but for now, this is just an emotional dump from someone who would absolutely die for their dog.
If you have a Saffron of your own, I know you get it.
If you don’t, I hope one finds you.