Assistance dogs are welcome at this organisation as we are committed to providing services that are equally accessible and responsive to all sections of the community. This includes assistance dogs in training along with their walker or sponsor.
This organisation adheres to the guidance detailed in the RCN’s Working with Dogs in Health Care Settings whereby pets are not permitted into healthcare settings unless in exceptional circumstances.
Definition:
The Equality Act 2010 defines an assistance dog as:
- A dog that has been trained to guide a blind person
- A dog that has been trained to assist a deaf person
- A dog that has been trained by a prescribed charity to assist a disabled person who has a disability that consists of epilepsy or otherwise affects the person’s mobility, manual dexterity, physical co-ordination or ability to lift, carry or otherwise move everyday objects
- A dog of a prescribed category that has been trained to assist a disabled person who has a disability (other than those described above)
Assistance dogs are working dogs that have been rigorously trained by the following associations:
- Guide Dogs for the Blind
- Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
- Support Dogs
- Dogs for the Disabled
- Canine Partners
- Dog A.I.D
- Medical Detection Dogs
- Dogs for Good
- Service Dogs UK
- The Seeing Dogs Alliance
- Veterans with Dogs
Registered assistance dogs are working animals, not pets, and are relied on by their owners for independence. Each charity will have their own agreements outlining the expectations and responsibilities of the owner. They will also regularly monitor the owner and the dog to ensure their expectations are fulfilled. Information about these charities can be found at www.assistancedogs.org.uk.
It is important to note that there is no legal requirement for assistance dogs to have been trained by a charity, or for them to carry specific identification, therefore there is no ‘proof’ that can be requested. Without any identity or any proof of training, it is not possible to confirm whether the animal is a pet or an assistance dog.
Further to this, in healthcare settings, there has been a significant growth in the number of working therapy dogs that help people with physical conditions and also assist with mental wellbeing.
The two main classifications of therapy dog are:
- Animal-assisted therapy (AAT), which is delivered in conjunction with other healthcare professionals, is ordinarily goal directed with the outcomes documented and evaluated
- Animal-assisted activity (AAA) is the term used when a handler brings a dog to the patient/resident for general interaction. These dogs are usually owned by the person who is their handler. This is also termed as being an emotional support animal (ESA) and further information on this can be found here. ESAs are pets that are required for a person’s ongoing mental health treatment or for their hidden disability.
Due to the nature of primary care, therapy dogs are unlikely to be needed within this organisation. Likewise, ESAs do not have the same legal recognition as an assistance dog.