[nfbwatlk] Comment from Mary Ellen, please

[Debby Phillips]

Hi Mary Ellen, have you seen this bill? I think it really sucks, 
for many reasons that ow won't go in to here.    Debby P.S.  Will 
you be in Florida this summer?

 ---- Original Message ------
From: Heather Hutchison via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nagdu] Proposed Service Dog Legislation in British 
Columbia, Canada
Date sent: Mon, 23 Mar 2015 15:03:15 -0700

Hey all,

Just wanting opinions on this proposed legislation in British 
Columbia, Canada, where I live (article below).  I am currently 
between dogs but am quite concerned about a number of things, to 
the point where if this legislation passes I will have to think 
very hard about whether or not  to get another guide.  I am not 
thrilled about the requirement that all dogs come from accredited 
schools, but what concerns me even more is that from my 
understanding, a handler will be forced to present some sort of 
government issued ID to gain access to any public facility with 
their dog.  This seems like a violation of privacy and human 
rights (especially if the handler’s name and info is on this ID), 
it isn’t reasonable in my opinion to require something of a 
service dog handler that is not required of anyone else.  I don’t 
like the idea of giving anyone who works at a business the right 
to be the service dog police, and the stress of having to defend 
my choice of mobility aid at every turn and prove I’m not a fraud 
makes me think I might just stick with the cane.

I was really hoping this legislation would be much closer to the 
ADA, sigh.

Thoughts?

-Heather


Fake ID is going to the dogs — rather too much, as it turns out.  
But a proposed B.C.  law aims to stop people labelling dogs 
without proper training as service dogs, by creating government 
issued dog ID and a provincial registry.
"It'll be a bit like a service dog driving licence if you like," 
Bill Thornton, the CEO of BC and Alberta Guide Dogs, an 
organization that trains service dogs, told Daybreak South's 
Chris Walker.
Service dogs don't just include seeing eye dogs trained to help 
people who are visually impaired.  They're also trained to help 
people in wheelchairs, people with hearing impairments, autism or 
to act as seizure alert dogs.

Thornton said over the past decade it has become easier to buy 
fake service dog tags and jackets online.
The identification tags allow the dog to accompany its owner to 
places dogs aren't usually allowed — such as restaurants or on 
public transit.
Thornton said he's seeing more and more situations involving fake 
service dog IDs, but it's difficult for most people to deal with.
"It is an awkward circumstance for someone to challenge someone 
who purports to have a disability and they've got a jacket on the 
dog — it's very difficult and often those folks behave very 
poorly when challenged," he said.
He said the new law would make things better for everyone, 
including people who legitimately need a service dog.
"They'll be able to check for the … licence and if you have it 
then you're entitled to go in, and if you don't have it you're 
not entitled to come in with the dog.
The new Guide Dog and Service Dog Act would also standardize 
training and certification in the province.  It has passed its 
first reading and is expected to be implemented in the fall.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/fake-service-dog-i
d-brought-to-heel-by-proposed-b-c-law-1.3003532
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