Shannon Moran is furious that he’s been denied funding for his service dog.
Despite qualifying for a Hearing Ear Dog from the Lions Foundation of Canada, Quebec’s subsidy program doesn’t seem to recognize his dog as a legitimate service animal.
He’s now planning to fight the province’s decision at the Human Rights Commission.
“It’s discrimination,” Moran said.
Moran has several disabilities, including severe hearing loss.
The Lions Foundation of Canada gave Moran a certified Hearing Ear Dog more than a decade ago. The senior citizen spends roughly $1,200 a year on his service dog’s veterinarian bills and food and he desperately wants access to a subsidy.
But after sending in several applications to Quebec’s health and social services ministry, his requests keep getting denied.
“I started back in 2002 asking for funding and I got the run-around saying, ‘oh we don’t have a listing for it’,” Moran said.
Quebec’s subsidy program only covers guide dogs for the visually impaired and service dogs for people with reduced mobility.
Despite the fact that he’s completely blind in one eye, he and his dog don’t seem to qualify.
“They don’t consider my dog acceptable to be getting funding,” Moran said.
Moran feels he’s a victim of discrimination based on language, since the health and social services ministry is suggesting he go to a French institution to prove that he is in fact visually impaired.
What’s more, despite writing all his applications in English, they only respond in French.
“They know that I’m anglophone, it’s highly insulting.”
The NDG resident is appealing the latest decision and trying to get help from his local MNA. He’s also planning to file a complaint with the Quebec Human Rights Commission.
“First of all, I would like them to recognize all guide dogs, not just the ones for the blind or the ones they pick and choose,” said Moran.
According to the Lions Foundation of Canada, most other provinces offer subsidies for all service dogs, including Hearing Ear Dogs.
“In Ontario, if somebody is on disability and they get the support, they get approximately an extra $70 a month for a service dog,” said Ian Ashworth, director of program development at Lions Foundation of Canada.
And service dogs for the hearing impaired have proven to make a world of difference.
“They perform a very real and defined role as service dogs,” said Ashworth. “Hearing Ear Dogs have been recognized as service dogs for many, many years.”
Moran’s service dog Kai is trained to alert her owner if she hears a fire alarm or other dangerous sounds, such as sirens.
“She’s my lifeline for safety when I’m out on the street,” said Moran.
He just wishes the government would understand and offer a subsidy to all people with certified service dogs.