Well,Middi has had his pass for two weeks now,
as usual we have not been asked to produce it,
probably because we only use suburban trains.
Below is the letter I wrote giving my reasons why our assistance dogs
should have the same rights as dogs for the blind, or the deaf.
I am Anne the physically disabled woman with “Midnight” my standard poodle who is being privately trained to be my assistance dog. I decided to train him privately, because I wanted to choose my own dog, and work with him from the beginning. He will meet my own special needs, that might not be covered by the companies who train dogs in Australia.
I am a strong believer that people who do not come under the very strict criteria for a service dog should be able to have one if it will help improve their life. For example if you use crutches, a dog could assist by “bracing’ to help if you fall, there are many other examples, but I am sure you can think of many more.
As you know, in other countries such as the USA, dogs can be trained privately or by specific companies, I know people who use both systems and the dogs are equally well trained.
In a small way, I am trying to help bring about changes in Australia,there is a need and room, for both systems.
The animal assistance pass is causing me, and other disabled people, problems at this stage. It appears to be discriminatory – why is it that only “guide dogs in training” can travel free on public transport in Victoria, and are the only" dogs in training" allowed on any public transport in the state. How is my dog going to acquire the skills of V-Line trains, or trams, if he is not allowed to use them.
Private training does not mean that our dogs have inferior training, anyone who is willing to train a dog themselves invests a great deal of time, money, and hard work, into their dog.
I think you would find that we are very careful about their health, diet and who we choose to help us train these very special dogs.
I question why our dogs must have a specific medical check-up every 1/2/3years, to someone on a disability pension this would be a big added expense, dogs are checked when immunized each year, this should be sufficient. A free eye check later in life [which is provided free in other countries] would be of great benefit.
I question why I and other people who have already been assessed as permanently disabled for a" disabled person free pass", should be asked to provide another very intrusive medical report. Our medical information is already on record with ?? if we use an assistance dog, we would naturally have it by our side while traveling.
Midnight has been training for the Assistance dog Public Access certification Test, which has been designed by Assistance dogs International. Many of the training schools in Australia belong to this organization. The test, though very thorough, allows flexibility for individual requirements of the disabled owner.
I feel very strongly that people with a disability should play a big role in determining what the public access test we use, should contain, and how it should be administered. After all we are the biggest stake holders: as it is our access that is the issue!
I am a strong believer that people who do not come under the very strict criteria for a service dog should be able to have one if it will help improve their life. For example if you use crutches, a dog could assist by “bracing’ to help if you fall, there are many other examples, but I am sure you can think of many more.
As you know, in other countries such as the USA, dogs can be trained privately or by specific companies, I know people who use both systems and the dogs are equally well trained.
In a small way, I am trying to help bring about changes in Australia,there is a need and room, for both systems.
The animal assistance pass is causing me, and other disabled people, problems at this stage. It appears to be discriminatory – why is it that only “guide dogs in training” can travel free on public transport in Victoria, and are the only" dogs in training" allowed on any public transport in the state. How is my dog going to acquire the skills of V-Line trains, or trams, if he is not allowed to use them.
Private training does not mean that our dogs have inferior training, anyone who is willing to train a dog themselves invests a great deal of time, money, and hard work, into their dog.
I think you would find that we are very careful about their health, diet and who we choose to help us train these very special dogs.
I question why our dogs must have a specific medical check-up every 1/2/3years, to someone on a disability pension this would be a big added expense, dogs are checked when immunized each year, this should be sufficient. A free eye check later in life [which is provided free in other countries] would be of great benefit.
I question why I and other people who have already been assessed as permanently disabled for a" disabled person free pass", should be asked to provide another very intrusive medical report. Our medical information is already on record with ?? if we use an assistance dog, we would naturally have it by our side while traveling.
Midnight has been training for the Assistance dog Public Access certification Test, which has been designed by Assistance dogs International. Many of the training schools in Australia belong to this organization. The test, though very thorough, allows flexibility for individual requirements of the disabled owner.
I feel very strongly that people with a disability should play a big role in determining what the public access test we use, should contain, and how it should be administered. After all we are the biggest stake holders: as it is our access that is the issue!
All true of course.I am very happy with the outcome, the pass requirements are very basic
. It applies to any animal that provides support when traveling,and for any disability.
Not sure about the "any animal" bit, that might cause a few problems.
.It has been changed to "dogs" in other countries,
we are always about 20 years behind!!!!
TODAY VICTORIA, TOMORROW THE WORLD!
