A COWDENBEATH initiative has been given a huge boost by a major UK pet food company as it prepares to open its doors.

Appaws for Autism, based in Woodend Road, will be training dogs which will be able to offer key assistance to autism sufferers.

Each year Burns Pet Nutrition offers two animal welfare charities an incredible support package to help them achieve their goals.

Burns are delighted to announce that autism assistance dog service, Appaws for Autism, has been chosen as their Scottish Charity of the Year 2017. Appaws for Autism is the only facility in Scotland to provide assistance dogs to children with an autism disorder.

An autism assistance dog can increase social interaction, confidence and safety. These specially trained dogs can provide comfort and protect in times of great anxiety or stress. Most of all, the child will experience and gain unconditional love and a best friend for life.

Burns will work closely with Appaws for Autism over the next 12 months, providing partial funding for the training of four autism assistance dogs and full funding to one autism assistance dog, plus all pet food.

Burns and Appaws for Autism will also collaborate on joint fundraising and promotional opportunities throughout the year.

Commenting on the news, Appaws Director, Carol Chisholm, said: “We were all astounded and delighted to be chosen to be Burns Charity of the Year in Scotland.

"We are extremely proud to be working with all the team at Burns and we are looking forward to the next year immensely. This award is very special to us all as it means we are doing what we set out to do for autism, our families and our dogs."

Veterinary Surgeon, John Burns launched Burns Pet Nutrition in 1993 after seeing the same pet health ailments occur repeatedly at his practice.

Research indicated that a poor quality diet was to blame so John created nutritious products which enable the body to function naturally.

Now 23 years on, Burns is a thriving business that offers an array of award-winning natural products for cats, dogs and rabbits.

The Charity of the Year project is part of the on-going Burns Foundation – an altruistic programme which aims to serve the local and wider community.

Commenting on the decision to choose Appaws for Autism as Charity of the Year, John said: “Appaws for Autism stood out to us for the incredible assistance dog training that they provide.

"The benefits that these specially trained animals can have on humans is remarkable and the organisations involved should be applauded.”

John plans to be in Cowdenbeath later this month when the Appaws for Autism Centre will officially open at Woodend on Monday February 27.