Assistance dog controversy: Sick and undernourished puppy was completely unfit for service

The mother of boy with autism has said she was “absolutely devastated” after finding out her son’s assistance dog, which the family raised over €6,000 to secure, was allegedly unfit for service.

To make matters worse, she said the company that provided the dog, Service Dogs Europe, not only failed to replace the dog, but has, so far, failed to return the family’s money.

Now Limerick woman Gillian O’Brien Murray said she is at her “wits’ end” — not only does her son, three-year-old Joseph, not have an assistance dog, the family has nothing to show for the money that family and friends helped them raise.