Families encouraged to apply for autism assistance dog

Aileen Foy, an assistance dog instructor with Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland, training one of the charity's new recruits in a playground in Cork.

An autism support dog charity has reopened its application process for new assistance dogs — with some 400 families expected to apply for 35 dogs.

Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland (AADI), which receives no State funding, says it has been able to reopen its application process this year thanks to the generosity of donors and fundraisers.