WATCH: Service dogs are an important part of many people’s lives, but issues like fear of dogs, rejection, and improper training has the Nova Scotia government taking steps to address these issues. Heide Pearson reports.
HALIFAX – The province of Nova Scotia has announced that it is working toward legislation that will increase recognition and acceptance of various types of service dogs, as well as establish a standard for training and certification of dogs.
” It’s really important that there’s standards in place, that we know the dogs are gonna be safe for those handlers, but also that there’s some kind of standard as to the training that the dog has to have,” said Kim Partridge.
Partridge is a dog trainer. She also owns therapy dog Roxy who provides therapy to children at the IWK Health Centre.
The use of service dogs is on the rise, as they are being recognized as an effective tool for a number of different sicknesses and disabilities. There are seeing eye dogs, which aid blind people in every day tasks, there are service dogs which help people who experience other disabilities, such as PTSD, and there are therapy dogs, which help people with a variety of issues like anxiety and stress, and lift spirits.
Training and certification is something that’s becoming an issue as service dogs are in higher demand. Partridge says that a growing problem is the fact that uncertified dog breeders see the demand and want to profit from it, and they fake the certification for dogs that aren’t properly trained.
“Just google ‘Canadian service dogs’ and it takes you to a site that’s based in Hawaii that for $99.99 you can buy a service dog vest, a certificate and an I.D. card,” Partridge said.
For the government of Nova Scotia, it’s important that the public know that the service dogs they are seeing, whether on the street or inside a business, is properly trained, certified, and safe.
“This is a special type of a dog that has gone through certification, that has gone through training, that it’s like an extension, it’s like their arm,” said Justice Minister Lena Metlege Diab.
Minister Diab said she hopes the new legislation will increase education about the different types of service dogs, improve training and identification standards, and to determine a penalty for anyone who refuses the rights of therapy dogs and their handlers.
For Charlie Macdonald, his seeing-eye dog Peaches allows him lead an independent life as a blind man. They walk, travel, and do just about everything together. Peaches is his fourth service dog.
Service dogs that help people who suffer from PTSD have also become very popular. Kim Gingwell’s service dog Omega recognizes when she is feeling stress, or in a crisis mode, and can distract her and bring her focus back.
She says that it’s important that handlers be just as trained as the dogs, adding that her five days of training with Omega were great for their relationship.
“I think it’s very important because that’s where you start your bond,” said Gingwell. “It’s an adventure.”
Service dogs also help people with illnesses ranging from diabetes to epilepsy.
There is currently no legislation in place in Nova Scotia regarding service dogs. Seeing eye dogs are protected under the Blind Persons Rights Act.
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