Dogs for Autism is a nationwide charity formed to benefit people living with autism all over the UK. It is also the UK's first charity to exclusively train and provide Autism Assistance dogs. Founder, Hilary Armour, knows the life changing effects a dog can have for the whole family but also just how hard it is for all but a lucky few to source a fully trained assistance dog from the recognised and reputable assistance dog charities in the UK.
With her background as a dog trainer and specialist Autism teacher, Hilary realised that this was an area where she could make a real difference and help autistic people all over the country by training more dogs for more people!
The charity already has many generous friends, including Oscar Pet foods who are helping them to feed a growing number of hungry mouths around the UK, and its success in the future relies solely on charitable donations.
But how can a dog help an autistic person? Other than companionship, which can be a major problem for many autistic people, they are trained to:
Administer deep pressure therapy,
Alert family members to the onset of a changing mood state,
Keep people safe who wander or bolt,
Help to de-escalate anxieties and calm difficult behaviours.
Dogs for Autism will exclusively work with families affected by autism in a bid to increase numbers of trained dogs across the UK. Families are trained at home and in their familiar local community, and anyone of any age in the UK can apply at www.dogsforautism.org.uk
Today, Poppy our amazing dog, took my daughter out to play. This might not sound like a big thing until you understand that she didnt go outside for nearly 4 years due to her anxieties. Having Poppy has made it possible to go outside, to play, to laugh, to feel safe and protected from the world around her. In short, Poppy has made living a normal life possible and we cant thank her enough.
* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.
