Dog Access Rights

guide dog

Guide Dogs

A Guide Dog and Guide Dog in Training have full public access rights in accordance with the Guide Dogs and Hearing Dogs Act, 1967.

Guide Dogs and Hearing Dogs Act 1967 – Section 3 (2).

A person who is in charge of a public place or public passenger vehicle, or the servant or agent of a person in charge of a public place or public passenger vehicle, must not: refuse to allow a person accompanied by a guide dog into that place or onto that vehicle; or direct a person accompanied by a guide dog to leave that place or vehicle; or deny accommodation or service to a person accompanied by a guide dog.

Penalties apply, and additional civil action could also be taken.

dog in orange coat

Autism Assistance Dogs

An Autism Assistance Dog and Autism Assistance Dog in Training have full public access rights in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 permits a person with disability to be accompanied by they Assistance Dog at all times.

Assistance Dogs are entitled to access all public places such as shops, hotels, restaurants and hospitals, as well as travelling on pubic transport and in taxis.

It is illegal to discriminate against a person with an Assistance Dog.

dog in orange coat in hospital

Facility Dogs

A Facility Dog does not have general public access rights. They have permission to access their facility only.

dog in leaves

Companion Dogs

Companion Dog does not have public access rights.

Just as hearing aids, wheelchairs and crutches enable people to live healthy, productive, independent, and dignified lives, Guide and Autism Assistance Dogs do the very same thing. Please remember that Guide and Assistance Dogs can go anywhere.