This International Assistance Dog Week (3-9 August) we are reminding business operators across the country of the importance of providing access to veterans accompanied by their trained and accredited assistance dogs.
Veterans with a trained assistance dog are entitled to the same public access as a person, which means the dog can go everywhere its human can go.
Psychiatric Assistance Dogs supplied by DVA are more than pets—they are essential partners for many veterans in successfully managing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These highly trained animals play an important role in helping veterans live independently, reduce their PTSD symptoms and navigate social situations.
That’s why the law protects their right to access all public places and services—including retail, hospitality and recreation venues, health and medical services, public and private transport and passenger vehicles, and accommodation and tourism services.
DVA trained and accredited dogs wear a coat with a distinctive patch to show they are not a pet but actively working to support to their veteran handler. Their veteran handlers also carry a Handler ID card as evidence of their dog’s accreditation and can present an Access Rights Card giving operators more information about their access rights under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
For more information about Assistance Dogs and Public Access Rights, visit the DVA website.