People passing off pets as service dogs an issue in Edmonton

WATCH ABOVE: It’s a growing problem: people who pretend their pet is a service dog. Lisa Wolansky has more.

EDMONTON — People using their pets to pose as service dogs is becoming more of a problem in Edmonton, according to a couple of local organizations that work closely with people who rely on them for daily activities.

“With the increased use of service dogs in the community it’s having an unintended side effect of people thinking, ‘Oh, I would like my dog to be able to come to the restaurant with me or fly on a plane with me,'” said John Wheelwright, executive director of Dogs With Wings, a service dog training facility.

Wheelwright says the organization receives several calls per week about people trying to pass off their pets as service dogs.

“It’s becoming a larger and larger problem all the time.”

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It takes about two years to properly train a service dog and its handler, and can cost upwards of $60,000, according to the Canadian National Institute of the Blind.

“When these dogs are masqueraded or posed as official guide dogs … it really puts at risk not only the safety of people because these aren’t guide dogs and they’re not trained the same way, but it also causes problems for people who should be protected under the legislation,” added John McDonald, executive director of the Alberta branch of the CNIB.

“These are not pets. They’re highly-trained animals with a very specific function and so it’s really a shame that the hard privileges that have been won can be compromised by people who are putting a harness on trying to impersonate an actual guide dog,” McDonald added.

There are currently new rules being proposed in B.C. that would see stricter penalties and a third party guide and service dog testing process. B.C.’s legislation would also allow retired service dogs to remain in the home with former handlers — even if pets are not allowed at the residence.

READ MORE: New rules proposed for B.C. residents who use guide or service dogs

While Alberta’s Service Dogs Act has been hailed as one of the strongest in the country, Alberta Human Services says the legislation is currently under review.

“Community members have said that there is a need for more public access for people and so we’re looking at a regulation change,” said Blair Addams with Alberta Human Services.

Addams says they have until 2017 to complete the review.

The current fine for falsely using a service dog in Alberta is $300.

With files from Lisa Wolansky, Global News.