A new campaign has been launched which aims to raise £1 million to provide specially trained dogs to help youngsters with autism . Roughly 72,000 children between the age of three and ten in the UK have the condition, which severely impairs social interaction and communication, as well as causing restricted and repetitive behaviour.
The child would be attached to the dog on a harness, with the dog specifically trained to ensure the child cannot run off into dangerous situations. Other skills such dogs can be trained include standing in front of the child gently pushing the child away from dangerous situations. The dog will be of great benefit to the child, who will be able to go out more and thus improve their knowledge and vocabulary.
The first known case of a child receiving such a dog in the UK was Joe Craik from Dundee. Having been diagnosed with autism when he was two, his mother contacted a Canadian organisation which provide assistance dogs, who agreed to help.
