An Assistance Dog is a dog that has been specifically trained to perform identifiable physical tasks or behaviours to assist a person with a disability to reduce their need for support.
In addition, an Assistance Dog must either have passed a Public Access Test (PAT) conducted by an approved trainer or training institution, or be documented as having reached an equivalent standard of training.
There are two categories of assistance dogs; an Accredited Assistance Dog, or an Assistance Dog as defined in the Disability Discrimination Act.
Accredited Assistance Dog
In South Australia, Assistance Dogs can only be accredited under the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 by either the Dog and Cat Management Board or one of the prescribed accreditation bodies. Accredited Assistance Dogs are dogs that have undergone and passed a Public Access Test (PAT) conducted by an approved assessor. The dog will be issued with an identity card which the handler should show if requested. An independent owner-trainer may apply for accreditation through the South Australian Dog and Cat Management Board.
Assistance Dog as defined in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992
The Disability Discrimination Act defines an assistance animal as a dog or other animal that:
“is trained to assist a person with a disability to alleviate the effect of the disability and to meet standards of hygiene and behaviour that are appropriate for an animal in a public place”.
To comply with this definition, a handler needs to show evidence, when requested, of both:
- The need for an assistance animal – such as a medical certificate providing evidence that the handler has a disability and that the assistance animal alleviates the effects of the disability; and
- Relevant training – such as a training diary or other records which demonstrate that the dog has been trained to alleviate the effects of the disability, and meet standards of hygiene and behaviour appropriate for an animal in a public place.
What does this mean for you, as an independent Owner-Trainer?
Once you have trained your dog to the required standard (meaning obedient in public places, and performing three trained tasks to specifically aid you with your disability) then you can either take the South Australian Dog and Cat Management Board Public Access Test (if you live in South Australia) or you can use the protection afforded by the Disability Discrimination Act, and carry with you a medical certificate plus training documentation in place of an authorised ID card. You and your dog are then legally able to access places that regular pet dogs are not permitted, such as shops, cinemas, taxis, and restaurants.