Charities seek update to laws concerning 'assistance dogs'

A new umbrella organisation is concerned improperly-trained dogs will discourage businesses from allowing “assistance dogs” on their premises.

With the same breed, age, and temperament of guide dogs, assistance dogs are trained to aid certain children.

The umbrella group Irish Assistance Dogs want special recognition for assistance dogs enshrined in legislation so parents of children with autism and other disabilities can take their dogs with them when they go to the cinema, restaurant, and other public places.

Representatives of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland, My Canine Companion, and Dogs for the Disabled also want the sector to be better regulated.

Representatives of the charities made a case for more legislation, regulation, and accreditation of the service dog sector when they appeared before yesterday’s meeting of the joint committee on health and children.

The group has identified two key pieces of legislation they want amended to offer recognition to assistance dogs, the Control of Dogs Act and the Child Care Act.

The chairman of Irish Assistance Dogs, Andrew Geary, said the shortage of assistance dogs had forced some families to employ private trainers who charged thousands for dogs that sometimes failed to perform.

He said 450 parents had got dogs from the charities, dogs that would have undergone at least two years’ training.

Irish Assistance Dog members have not faced any instances of assistance dogs being refused access to restaurants public parks and public transport because of poorly trained dogs.

However, in other jurisdictions, incidents with dogs that were not properly trained have arisen.

Mr Geary said they wanted to reduce the likelihood of any such incidents occurring in Ireland by having special recognition for assistance dogs.

The chief executive of Irish Dogs for the Disabled, Jennifer Dowler, said while hundreds of families had benefited from the charities, waiting lists had all closed due to the pressures of fundraising. She said waiting times had steadily increased, in some cases to up to five years and that families were being “preyed upon” by operators who are outside the charity sector.

Existing legislation only applied specifically to guide dogs and there was no law relating to assistance dogs and public access.

“Our group believes that assistance dog users need the same legal rights and access as guide dog users,” said Ms Dowler.

“Our greatest concern is the increasing numbers of companies selling assistant-dog style jackets and branded materials and the ease at which anybody can acquire these items.”