A boy’s best friend... pup trained to save the life of allergy sufferer Mason
AS Mason Hale hugs his golden retriever puppy, he looks like any other little boy delighted with his new best friend.
But the pup, called Storm, is far from just a pet – he being trained to save the six-year-old boy’s life.
Mason, from Buckie, Banffshire, has a huge range of allergies. Contact with everything from nuts, eggs and oranges, to latex and even mint toothpaste and paint, can bring him out in blisters.
Just the smell of certain products or a change of environment can trigger a lifethreatening attack.
If left untreated, his throat can swell, dangerously restricting his breathing. In the past 18 months, doctors have had to save his life on three occasions.
But Storm will be able to spot the signs that Mason is having an attack and will alert those around him by pacing and barking. The boy’s parents, Kelly and David, said that when the pup is fully trained, around May next year, he will even go to school with Mason.
Mrs Hale, 30, said: ‘I remember the doctor saying every anaphylactic shock he has is a step closer to losing him for good. Mason has so many allergies, even lighting a candle can cause a reaction.
‘Having Storm will give us more peace of mind and let him lead as normal a life as possible.
‘He’ll be able to do things he couldn’t do before, like going on school trips.’
She added: ‘We only got Storm in July but the difference he has made to Mason’s life is amazing.
‘I’d put my trust in Storm more than I would some adults. That’s how much he’s affected Mason’s life already.
‘Mason is so much more confident and wherever one goes, the other follows.’