‘Since we got Quelda, we do everything as a family’
a few. Trish praises the majority of parents for being good at explaining to their children the difference between a working dog and a pet and why they can’t approach her.
“It’s more the older generation that might pass and pat Quelda on the head, more instinctively, not realising that she is an assistance dog. But I’m quite happy to educate those that don’t realise the difference and find them very receptive and respectful once I do,” she adds.
Trish has nothing but praise for IGD as she got a glimpse firsthand of all the hard work that goes into training an assistance dog. And once Trish’s own training was completed, she got to take Quelda home to Conor and the rest of the family.
“The first attachment walk was tough.” Trish recalls. “Conor lay down on the ground crying, not being able to communicate his feelings — he got very frustrated. Irish Guide Dogs were eager to get back out for another attachment walk that afternoon.”
Trish initially didn’t share the same enthusiasm given the outcome of the first walk but they persevered. Now, seven months later, they are going into town with Quelda as a family. Previous to Quelda’s arrival they would separate on the weekends. Eoin might bring Aoibhinn and Ben off while Trish would do something with Conor.
Trish says they keep going from strength to strength. She found a school for Conor in Mallow. He was quite upset after his last school couldn’t keep teaching him due to lack of resources and training. He was lonely and couldn’t sleep for months. Now at Scoil Aonghusa, they focus on his abilities and not lack thereof. A recent parent-teacher meeting nearly brought Trish to tears when she was told how well her child was doing there.
“He became this new bright-eyed child. He lights up in his uniform. People who came to our home would also remark on how calm Conor had become only months after Quelda’s arrival.”
Things are finally coming together. Conor has a sense of belonging and he looks forward to weekends now as he knows they will all be doing something together. “Having a child with autism, everything’s a plan.” Trish says. But it’s less stressful now with their new checklist — “keys, wallet, Quelda, check.”
When I ask her what’s next for them, she replies with ease.
“The sky’s the limit but right now we’re working up to visiting the Christmas market in the city centre. It will be a first for Conor to see all the Christmas lights and stalls. Before, if someone had asked if we were headed to it, the answer would have been a resounding ‘no’. But with the support of Irish Guide Dogs we don’t feel like we’re on our own trying to figure it all out. They have given us the confidence to say ‘yes’.”
“We’re even considering going on holiday together to mark my 40th birthday in two years, which we would never have done before Quelda came into our lives.”
And Trish is not the only one the black lab has won over. Her husband Eoin loves the dog because he can confidently take care of all three children by himself. Which means Trish can pop out and take time to herself if needs be and vice versa. They all take care of Quelda, she gets lots of play and daily maintenance walks and Conor will have an attachment walk after school.
Trish says that the Irish Guide Dogs have a hand-back option as assistance dogs usually retire around the 10-year mark. But the O’Neills already have a retirement plan for Quelda — she’s staying firmly within the family and it’s easy to understand why.
The therapeutic value of Quelda appears to have affected them all, with Trish swearing that the dog just knows when she’s had a rough day and will saunter in and put her head on her knee, big eyes staring up at her, as if to ask: “Are you OK?”
And thanks to their furry friend and support from Irish Guide Dogs, they really are.
• Irish Guide Dogs is Ireland’s national charity devoted to helping people who are vision impaired as well as families of children with autism. They receive over 85pc of their income solely through voluntary donations and fundraising throughout Ireland. Their efforts enable clients with sight loss and families of children on the autism spectrum to lead better lives, establish more independence and increase their mobility.
• To find out more information on applying or make a donation, you can call 021 4878200 or go online to guidedogs.ie
Trish opened her home to TG4 where their journey was captured on the ‘docu-series’ Saol an Mhadra Bháin (The Secret World of Working Dogs). Trish’s story, along with others, will continue in this week’s episode of Saol an Mhadra Bháin on Wednesday at 9.30pm on TG4.