'They become like your other child': What it's like to foster a therapy dog
AADI Therapy dogs - Michelle McCaffrey with puppy in training Triton 8 months old. Martina O'Neill with JayJay also 8 months old at the Parkway Shopping Centre in Limerick. Picture: Kieran Ryan-Benson.
Therapy dogs are a special kind of dog, providing assistance and support, and at times, just company, to people with additional needs. At Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland (AADI), the dogs are a game-changer for families of children with autism, and foster families play a huge role in the service the AADI provides.
“The foster family role is vital. We couldn’t do what we do without our fosters,” explains Rose Hurley, puppy programme manager at AADI.
