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Assistance Dogs and Guide Dogs review

Many Queenslanders with disabilities rely on guide dogs and assistance dogs in their every day lives. Currently, people who use specially trained assistance dogs do not have the same access rights that vision and hearing impaired people have with their guide dogs.

Disability Services Queensland has looked at a number of different ways of giving a right to people to be able to go into public places with their assistance dog.

The Honourable Warren Pitt MP
Minister for Communities, Disability Services and Seniors
pictured with assistance dogs Tom and Marge
trained by Craig A. Murray.

Assistance dogs can help people in many ways. They can:

• open and shut doors
• turn on lights
• help make a bed
• pick up things that have fallen on the floor
• press buttons at pedestrian crossings
• get help if their owner is sick or in danger.

People with vision or hearing impairments who are assisted by guide or hearing dogs already have a right to enter public places with their dogs. This right is set out in the Guide Dogs Act 1972.

In October last year, Disability Services Queensland (DSQ) consulted with government and community stakeholders to determine the best legislative model to recognise assistance dogs. During the six week consultation process, over 340 copies of the Assistance Dogs and Guide Dogs Review: Discussion Paper and its companion document New laws for dogs that help were sent to peak disability bodies representative of people with a disability that would benefit from assistance guide dogs, organisations expert in the training and behaviour of dogs, representative bodies for the business, retail and private transport sectors and all Queensland local governments.

Feedback was received through two focus groups, by telephone, in survey forms and written submissions. A total of 54 submissions were received. The feedback from the consultation processes has enabled DSQ to develop a greater understanding of the assistance dogs, hearing dogs and guide dogs industries.

During the consultation process, issues relating to standards and guidelines for assistance dogs and assistance dog trainers were highlighted which have required further research and policy development.

Disability Services Queensland will continue to work with peak disability bodies, local governments, representative bodies for business, retail and private transport sectors and organisations in the training and behaviour of dogs in the development of future legislation.

To obtain a printed copy of the paper or in alternative formats contact the department on telephone 1800 177 120.