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Assistance Animals

Answer

Assistance dogs are not funded or provided by the Government, and assistance dogs are not regulated or defined in law.

There are well established dog training organisations which have international accreditation and are members of the umbrella coalition Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK). Following a Government initiative in 2017/18, a new charity was established - the Assistance Dogs Assessment Association (ADAA) - which offers a test and certificate for assistance dogs trained through sources without international accreditation. It is now possible for assistance dogs to be tested and certified as having reached a set standard, even where they are trained by a body without international accreditation.

The Equality Act 2010 places a general duty on businesses and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to allow disabled people, including people with assistance dogs, access to goods and services so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people. Duties and protections under the Equality Act are ultimately enforceable through the courts, and anybody who thinks that they have been discriminated against - including where access to an assistance dog has been refused - can take legal action to seek to resolve the issue.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Equality Act, and has published guidance on ‘Assistance Dogs: a guide for businesses and service providers’.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

92821

Session

2024-26

Grouped for answer

Yes

Subjects

Employment Standards Assistance animals

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk