Duchess of Edinburgh meets autism assistance dog with royal connection
The Duchess of Edinburgh had a particularly adorable visit this week, as she was introduced to specialist dogs being trained to support people with autism.
On Tuesday (22 January) Sophie joined the charity Dogs for Autism in Alton, to learn more about the organisation's work and meet some of those supported by the specialist dogs at the centre.
The Royal Family said that The Duchess was "introduced to several dogs and their partners, who shared the positive impact these assistance dogs have on their lives."
Sophie was also able to have a cuddle with an adorable nine-week-old puppy called Louis, who has a special royal connection. Not only does the pup share a name with The Prince and Princess of Wales' youngest child, Prince Louis, but he also is of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed.
Puppy Louis has been bred by a specialist cardiac vet who is working to eradicate heart-related heath issues which can affect the breed. When Louis grows up and completes his training, he will be able to join his older sister Lexi, who is already doing great work supporting people with autism.
Autism affects 2.8 million people across the UK, according to Dogs for Autism, which also explains that, despite autism not being a mental health condition, "as many as 84% of autistic children and adolescents have a co-occurring mental health problem such as depression, anxiety, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)."
The charity’s assistance dogs are therefore able to "support people with autism by providing comfort, reducing anxiety, and improving their quality of life," said the Royal Family.
You can find out more information about Dogs for Autism's work on the charity's website, including how to donate to support its work, fundraising opportunities and applications to access one of the specially trained dogs.
For further support and resources around autism, visit the National Autistic Society website.
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