Cork mum: I'm doing mini marathon to thank Irish Guide Dogs for  the Blind

Tara Lenihan is all set to take part in this year’s mini marathon in aid of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind (IGDB). It’s her way to say thank-you to a charity that has so deeply impacted her family.

“Our son was diagnosed with autism last March and is considered a flight risk, so we applied for an assistant dog from Irish Guide Dogs,” said Tara.

“Fast forward four months and Denver is home with us, and we can’t describe the difference he has made already. He has given us the freedom to go out again as a family and has helped our son, Kye, hugely.”

As far as Tara is concerned, Irish Guide Dogs go beyond the day job.

“The team have helped beyond what was asked for; from the full week of intensive training away from home to always being at the end of the phone. We can’t thank them enough,” the grateful mother says.

Like so many Irish children, Tara’s son Kye is on a waiting list for the therapy he needs.

“He was diagnosed a year and a half ago, but we are looking at 2026 at the earliest to get seen – to even start addressing his specific needs.

“He will be going into third class at that stage, into his final years of primary school.”

Kye has always attended a mainstream school and is ed brilliantly in the classroom, says Tara, but he is a flight risk, and that had previously left him very vulnerable beyond the school walls.

“It meant we couldn’t go to the park as a family. Kye can’t cross the road as he has no sense of danger. If he gets panicked, he will just go – he goes right into that flight or fight mode.”

Tara didn’t expect Denver to turn up so quickly.

We sent in an assessment form in September last year, and were told it would take up to two years as it takes that time to train a dog. Then, in February we got a call to meet a dog.

They couldn’t believe their luck.

“We met the dog and went for an attachment walk and Kye and the puppy got on like a house on fire straight away. The puppy was so excited that when we took off his little jacket, he miscalculated his running distance and bowled into Kye. Kye didn’t mind. He wasn’t afraid, which they were happy to see. Our other child, still a baby, was fearless too, so we were a good match.”

The family went away thinking they would be waiting another 18 months and were thrilled to get a call in March inviting Tara to attend their week-long intensive training course.

They basically had a dog that suited us. Denver and his two brothers were matched with me, a family in Drogheda, and another in Donegal. Three of us stayed at the centre from the Monday morning and graduated that Friday.

Tara was genuinely blown away by the week and by the charity.

“We were fed breakfast, lunch and dinner every day and it was homegrown and nutritious. The centre is amazing. They couldn’t have done more.”

She needed the nourishment to learn everything she needed to know before heading home with the newest member of her family.

“I never walked so much. We each had a private room, and our dog stayed with us. We needed that bonding time. If you want a dog to do what you want them to do, they must trust you.”

This was a very different experience to getting a pet, she explains.

“We’ve had pets before, but a guide dog is more like an athlete. You must weigh them every week so that they can do their job properly. You must know everything about maintaining their health and wellbeing. They go to the vet every two weeks. The IGDB visits and they are only ever a phone call away. With them, no question is a stupid question.”

The dog is given down time, but Tara says they need to be regimented so bad habits don’t bleed into his day job.

 “We can’t let him beg at the kitchen table for instance, because then he might start begging when he goes into a restaurant with Kye. We need to be strict with him, but we are being firm to be fair, to both himself and Kye.”

This discipline doesn’t only relate to the dog, however. The public can be hard to manage too.

“We bring him everywhere with us and that helps us to bond. Today he came to the swimming pool and stayed at the side. But you wouldn’t believe how difficult people can make it. No matter how often or politely I ask, they insist on petting him. They don’t understand he’s working. The yellow jacket seems to be a magnet. It says Don’t Touch but people can’t help themselves.

“It’s upsetting because the dog is with us for a very specific reason. Yes, he’s trained, but he is still a dog, and we don’t want him spooked or distracted. My husband laughs that we are like a walking circus, and it is a lot. I have the buggy with me too. The attention is also unhelpful for Kye. It can be overwhelming for him.”

“Then there is the reverse situation, when people don’t understand that Kye is entitled to bring his dog with him everywhere. We have all the papers and everything as proof.

“I ask anyone who objects if they think I’ve stolen the Guide Dog jacket or something,” Tara laughs.

At the end of the day Denver has made a huge different to their lives.

It’s difficult to put into words. We went to our first Cork City game recently, something we could never have managed before. Kye tells everyone that Denver is his best friend, and he is. He protects Kye in every way.

Recently, Kye and the baby were unwell. Denver seemed to know before they started to show symptoms.

“Denver barked and barked the night before and when they started to feel awful, he didn’t leave their sides.”

A trip to Temple Street Hospital really highlighted the impact Denver has had on Kye in particular.

“We were there before, and it was hard. Kye found it very distressing, but this time Denver was there throughout, protecting him. Kye was totally calm, petting Denver while the doctors did their bits and pieces. My husband and I looked at each other. We just couldn’t believe the difference.”

Tara now plans to give back to the charity. She will do the mini marathon, raise funds via social media, and hopes to run a coffee morning too and undertake a sky dive.

These dogs cost about €50,000 to train and place with people. That is a huge amount of money and so much work goes into every animal.

“They have done so much for our family. We want them to know that we are very grateful for all of it.”

To sign up for The Echo Women’s Mini Marathon, see echolive.ie/minimarathon