For Janet Levine, 2016 was not shaping up to be a good year. Her mother had died. She had undergone a double mastectomy, followed by rounds of chemotherapy and months of radiation and uncertainty. She wanted a rest. She wanted adventure. She craved beauty and sight-seeing. But one thing was certain – she needed to do this with her service dog, Gretl, an irascible Airedale terrier.
So like the rest of us, Janet started poking around the internet, looking for something that combined dog training, vacation and some kind of exotic romp. She struck gold when she found a place called Kelford Dog Training. But here’s the kicker: the school was in Wales. This meant a lot of firsts for Gretl: the initial airplane venture (seated in bulkhead), a couple of taxi rides, a stay in London and three transfers on a British train.