Animal helpers push

Call to give assistance pets the same rights as guide dogs

ASSISTANCE animals that help people with disabilities and mental illnesses deserve the same rights to access public places as guide dogs for the blind, Labor says.

The Federal Disability Discrimination Act provides for the recognition of assistance animals, and some states allow assistance dogs or other animals access to public transport.

Pembroke MLC Jo Siejka said Labor supported reforms to make it easier for assistance animals in Tasmania to be treated the same as guide dogs for the blind.

“Labor went to the state election with a commitment to make it easier for people with a range of disabilities and impairments to have assistance animals because currently only guide dogs for the visually and hearing-impaired have public access rights to enter public buildings, transport, businesses and accommodation,” she said.

“The Hodgman Liberal Government should be addressing this serious gap in accessibility for Tasmanians suffering mental ill health and recognising the positive impact assistance animals can have for people living with conditions such as PTSD.

“The Government needs to implement legislative change to recognise assistance animals the same way we do with guide dogs for the vision impaired through the accreditation and registration process.”

The State Government did not comment yesterday.

Assistance animals help people with disabilities and mental illness to perform a range of tasks — such as carrying or retrieving objects, alerting epileptics to seizures or assisting people with PTSD or severe anxiety to deal with daily life.

Poor regulation around assistance animals had caused problems in the United States and the United Kingdom, as unscrupulous pet owners abused rules designed to help people with genuine disabilities. In one case, a woman travelling with what she claimed was an “emotional support peacock” was barred form a flight in New Jersey.