Know the rules around assistance dogs

Residents are being urged to know the rules around assistance dogs.

Assistance dog handler, Alicia Corlett, has put together an information poster outlining the things people can and can't do around the animals.

Among the advice is not petting the dogs as it could distract them from important tasks which could range from guiding a handler who is blind to detecting and responding to a seizure or attack.

Meanwhile, the guidance says people will be able to recognise if the animal is an assistance dog as it will usually wear a vest or harness stating their job or name of the charity which trained them, however you may also see some dogs which are trained by their owners.