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Dog Assistance in Disability achieves re-accreditation
Dog A.I.D provides assistance dog training to people over 15 years old with physical disabilities.
Organisation will remain a member of Assistance Dogs International for a further five years. 

Assistance dog charity, Dog Assistance in Disability (Dog A.I.D) has achieved re-accreditation by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) for maintaining high standards of excellence in all areas of assistance dog acquisition, training and partnership.

A review conducted by a trained ADI assessor over two to four days found that the charity, which relies solely on voluntary income, met ADI's Standards of Practice. It means that Dog A.I.D will remain a member programme of the ADI - the leading authority in the dog assistance industry - for a further five years.

Dog A.I.D. chair Sandra Fraser comments: “We are delighted to receive re-accreditation for a further five years from ADI. We have been evaluated on program management, administration, facilities and community activities with gold seal achievement. Full credit goes to our staff, volunteers, clients and dogs for maintaining the highest of standards and dedication to make this possible”.

Based in Shropshire, Dog A.I.D provides assistance dog training to people over 15 years old with physical disabilities up to Assistance Dog standard where suitable. Where Dog A.I.D. differs from most assistance dog charities, is that the dogs they work with belong to the clients.

The organisation operates throughout the UK and currently has 117 fully qualified assistance dogs, with a further 121 in training. Once trained, the new assistance dogs provide vital, life-changing support to their owners, from emptying the washing machine and finding the telephone, to turning on the lights.

ADI is a worldwide coalition of non-profit organisations that raise, train and place assistance dogs. There are currently 133 ADI accredited service dog programmes throughout the world. 

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.