Mother gets leash of life after arrival of Russet

GETTING an assistant dog has given Mary White, the mother of an autistic child, a new ‘leash’ on life.

Ms White’s nine-year-old son, Eamon, is moderately autistic and, until Russet, a 20-month-old female golden retriever, arrived in their home four weeks ago, going out was always a struggle.

The Whites from Terenure, Dublin, are one of 30 families across Ireland to benefit from the Irish Guide dogs for the Blind’s (IGDB) Assistance Dogs Programme for families of children with autism.