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	If man&#39;s best friend is a dog then little Darragh Courtney may become one very happy little boy.</p>
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	The five-year-old Kimmage boy has a spectrum of autism that places barriers between him and the world.</p>
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	A specially trained canine companion would help calm his frustrations.</p>
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	But such specially trained dogs don&#39;t come cheap, and Darragh&#39;s family are trying to raise the money needed to help him and other children like him around the country.</p>
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	Darragh was just 18-months-old when he gradually stopped using words.</p>
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	His parents Mary and Darren weren&#39;t sure what was wrong and fearing he might be going deaf, they visited their GP.</p>
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	&quot;He said he thought Darragh might have Asperger&#39;s Syndrome, and that I should not Google it until we got further tests done, but when I got home I had to check it out and my heart broke there and then,&quot; Mary explained.</p>
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	Heartbreak</p>
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	Further tests ruled out Asperger&#39;s, but the diagnosis didn&#39;t do anything to cure their heartbreak.</p>
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	Darragh, their youngest of four boys, was diagnosed with autism at the age of two-and-a-half.</p>
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	&quot;We were devastated. It is a cold diagnosis and we felt very alone,&quot; Mary told the Herald.</p>
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	Darragh has around 100 words but rarely uses them, opting instead to grab, push or pull his parents to show them what he needs.</p>
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	&quot;No two children with autism are the same. Each has their own behaviour and quirkiness,&quot; Mary explained.</p>
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	&quot;He is affectionate and has good days, but if you want to go somewhere and he doesn&#39;t, there&#39;ll be a meltdown,&quot; she added.</p>
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	This is where a trained dog comes into the picture.</p>
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	A charity called My Canine Companion trains dogs to assist children and young adults living with autism and other conditions.</p>
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	Niall Ruddy from the charity described how a dog can help.</p>
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	&quot;Kids like Darragh are high-functioning with a high sensory range which means places like shopping centres can be overwhelming for them,&quot; he said.</p>
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	&quot;A trained dog gives them focus because they encourage positive attention.</p>
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	Special</p>
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	&quot;Not only do our dogs assist children physically, but these special dogs also become the child&#39;s best and in some cases, only, friend.&quot;</p>
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	The cost of training a pup to two-years-old can be in the region of &euro;10,000.</p>
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	Mary and Darren are holding a table quiz in Terenure College at 8pm on Friday, May 15.</p>
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	Donations can also be made securely online to idonate.ie under &#39;Darragh&#39;s Puppy Fund&#39;.</p>
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	<a href="http://www.herald.ie/news/all-that-autistic-darragh-5-wants-is-a-dog-to-help-him-in-life-31186016.html">http://www.herald.ie/news/all-that-autistic-darragh-5-wants-is-a-dog-to-help-him-in-life-31186016.html</a></p>
