Booted off bus with companion dog
An elderly Auckland man living with Parkinson’s disease is scared to use public transport after he was kicked off a bus with his companion dog.
Mike Dakin, 85, and lap dog Bella were told to leave the bus after they were initially allowed on by the driver.
Dakin, who also lives with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has a medical certificate from his doctor advising that Bella is a companion dog and needs to be with him at all times.
But she isn’t an official service dog. Auckland Transport said unless they were registered as service or guide animals, dogs weren’t allowed on its services.
Before the incident Dakin and Bella had been allowed several times to travel together on buses.
‘‘But since that day, I’ve lost my confidence and haven’t been on a bus since,’’ Dakin said.
‘‘She’s not a registered service dog but she is like one to me.
‘‘One time she led me into a pharmacy after I forgot because she knew our routine.’’
Dakin said it took him two months after he sold his car in 2017 to muster the courage to set foot on a bus for the first time.
But since the incident in August, he’s been scared to leave the house and has relied on friends to get his shopping and medicine for him. ‘‘I can’t function without Bella. She helps me break social barriers and at other times when I get overwhelmed by the moment, Bella is like a touchstone for me and she gives me the strength to do what I’m doing.’’
Auckland Transport (AT) media spokesman James Ireland said Dakin wasn’t allowed to take Bella on a bus unless she was a registered service animal.
‘‘Auckland Transport apologises for the treatment this passenger received, this should not have happened,’’ Ireland said.
Ireland said AT was aware of calls for dogs to be allowed to travel on public transport. The Greater Wellington Regional Council has allowed domestic pets, including dogs, on buses and trains since July.
Ireland said AT was planning a public consultation in November with customers on whether non-assistance animals should be allowed on public transport. He said they would also like to work with Dakin to get his dog certified. ‘‘Assistance dogs provide an essential role and if AT can help to ensure this passenger has the ability to travel around Auckland in the way he needs, we would like to do that.’’