Quana, a well-known guide dog for the blind, who belonged to 84-year-old Jean Howes, the first person in Bermuda to get a guide dog, has passed away in her 12th year.

Quana, a beautiful black labrador retriever, was bred in New York and trained by Janice Abbott at Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Mrs. Howes received Quana, who was her fourth guide dog, in 2001.

"I got my first dog in 1977 when I fell down a manhole," said Mrs. Howes.

"I had worked in town for 17 years up until that point. I was all grazed up and had to go to the hospital. Someone suggested that I get a dog."

At first she was sceptical, but it didn't take long to adapt to having a guide dog, after her first dog Moonshadow, a cross between a husky and a German Shepherd, arrived and Mrs. Howes has not been without a guide dog since.

She worked for the old Medical Hall in the pricing department for 31 years, most of that time with a guide dog at her side.

Her next dog was Brandy, but the name was quickly changed to Mandy. "I go to a Baptist church and I couldn't take "Brandy" to church every Sunday," Mrs. Howes said with a laugh. "Brandy was my only blond."

Her next dog was Walnut, a black labrador retriever, who was replaced by Quana.

"I'm getting older now, and not as active," said Mrs. Howes. "I think Quana will be my last dog." Because of Mrs. Howes' age, Quana was chosen because of her calm nature.

In recent years, Quana had also become blind, and was being walked by students from The Learning Express Academy, but until her own vision problems, Quana was Mrs. Howes' eyes at every occasion.

She guided Mrs. Howes' to schools to talk with school children.

She made television appearances with Mrs. Howes' on the annual Jean and Gene Christmas show, and she was even there when Mrs. Howes led a protest in support of local taxi drivers a few years ago.

"I don't know why other blind people in Bermuda don't get guide dogs," said Mrs. Howes. "I know of two other people who have gotten them over the years.

"One lady moved to Boston and the other was a young man, but he decided he could walk better without a dog."

The Lions Club paid for all of Mrs. Howes' guide dogs.

"I also want to thank Ettrick Animal Hospital," Mrs. Howes said.

"They don't charge for treatment of a guide dog. They just charge for medications. They have cared for all of my dogs."