Toby and Sox: The Heartwarming Tale of a Little Boy With Autism and a Dog in a Million

The heartwarming tale of a little boy with autism and a dog in a million.

When severely autistic Toby Turner was excluded from school for the third time for hitting and kicking his teachers, his family hit rock bottom. Toby felt so upset by his own aggression, he told his parents they would be better off without him.

Terrified, Toby's mum gave up her job as a nursery nurse to teach him at home while they found a place for him in a special school. Eventually, the only way the family could get Toby out of the house was by giving him headphones, sunglasses and a cap to block out the world.

After a difficult few years, the family was thrown a lifeline by the charity Dogs for the Disabled, which introduced Toby to Sox. The adorable three-year-old Labrador/Golden Retriever was trained by the charity to help children with autism. Within two weeks, he had turned Toby's life around. Together, as a family unit, and with Sox by their side, the Turners have learned to enjoy life again.

VIKKY TURNER worked as a nursery nurse at her local school until taking time off to help support her son, Toby, who has autism. She lives in Oxfordshire with her husband, Neil, who is an IT manager, and their children: Lauren, 18, Jo, 15, Toby, 10, and Ollie, 7. They also share their home with Sox the dog and Charlie the cat. Vikky now enjoys volunteering as a speaker for the charity Dogs for the Disabled, sharing Toby and Sox's story and the amazing work the charity does for others around the UK.