A LABRADOR saved from the pound in Donegal just hours before he was due to be put down is now helping a young autistic boy.
The incredible turnaround in the fortunes of Goldie has also had the same heart-warming effect on the lives of little Isaac and his parents.
Goldie was noticed in the local dog pound by Donegal Pet Rescue’s foster co-ordinator Ryan Mc Cauley who saved her at the 11th hour and spared her life from the lethal injection.
After Goldie came out of the pound she was brought to a vet for a health check and to receive her injections.
Goldie was placed with a foster family and was described by her foster mother as a “very placid girl who is very eager to please.”
This statement set the wheels in motion and Ryan was in contact with Brian Curran from LK Pets in Letterkenny to carry out some basic training assessment.
After a very successful meeting between Brian and Goldie, Ryan proceeded to get in touch with Kate Mc Cafferty of Autistic Family Support Group.
Goldie was evaluated approved and sent forward to the training department of My Canine Companion who are always on the look-out for a dog just like Goldie. 
Before Goldie went forward to My Canine Companion she stayed with Kate Mc Cafferty of Autistic Family Support Group while recovering from her spaying operation.
From here Goldie went to stay with Lynda from My Canine Companion to prepare for her start in the training programme.
Over the next few months Goldie came on leaps and bounds in her training and returned to Lynda for her Christmas Holidays. 
At this stage everyone was delighted with the progress Goldie had made and held high hopes of her completing her training.
Goldie was back to training in January where she was put through numerous test in different circumstances and was ready to be placed in a family in June of this year.
My Canine Companion then set about finding the right home for Goldie. The family chosen was Maureen, Paul and son Isaac.
Isaac had a very irregular sleeping pattern and often kept his mother up most of the night. He would be very difficult to manage and would run away from her in the park or when out shopping.
This was a tremendous strain on the daily lives of the whole family.
Isaac attends a preschool for autistic children and 2 girls in his class have assistance dogs. This gave Maureen, Isaac’s mother the idea to apply for an assistance dog to try and help out with his condition.
Maureen was successful in her application and on the 19th of June she travelled to Cork and completed a 3 day course with Goldie before taking him home on the 23rd to meet Isaac.
It was an instant friendship as Goldie and Isaac became inseparable. Maureen, and Isaac’s dad Paul, are enjoying a better quality of life as Isaac is sleeping all night, is visibly calmer and relaxed and an altogether much happier child.
This is due to Isaac mimicking Goldie’s calm nature and all this from a dog that was hours from being put to sleep. 
Donegal Pet Rescue and the Autism Family Support Group are so delighted with the outcome of Goldie’s story that they are holding ‘’ GOLDIE’S GRADUATION BALL’’ in the Radission Blu Hotel Letterkenny on the 19th October 2013 to raise much needed funds and awareness for both charities.
On the night they will have a 4 course dinner and entertainment along with an auction and many raffle prizes up for grabs.
This will be a great chance to meet Goldie and her new family and hear the story first hand of how Goldie has changed this family’s life for the better.
Tickets are priced @ €25 and are available from the DPR Charity Shop, Foster homes and LK PETS or from any member of Autism Family Support Group.
“This story portrays how a dog that was due to be put to sleep has now made such an impact on a child’s life,” said Ryan.
“It’s one story I’ll never tire of telling.”