Fake assistance dogs are causing distress, WA handlers say

People who rely on assistance dogs in WA's South West say untrained pets wearing service-dog jackets are lunging at and distracting their working animals, the ABC reports.

In Bunbury, navy veteran Gary Crombie relies on his golden retriever, Levi, for his PTSD. He told the ABC a woman with a so-called assistance dog recently approached him, and her dog began lunging and barking at Levi from about five metres away.

"When a dog is distracted, it's not paying attention to its owner and anything could happen to that owner." - Gary Crombie, navy veteran

Photo: Hurricane Omega via Wikimedia Commons (public domain). File photo.

'Pets in jackets'

Nigel Huckstep, a founding member of WA Assistance and Therapy Dogs, said he had seen similar dogs in Busselton. He said a properly trained dog takes about 18 months to reach a standard where it can help with medical tasks, and badly behaved "pets in jackets" lead to eye rolls for genuine handlers, especially those with invisible disabilities.

Part of the problem is that the markings vary. Guide Dogs WA mobility instructor Katie Crawford told the ABC each organisation has its own uniform, which can confuse the public.

What the law says in WA

In WA, assistance dogs trained by prescribed organisations are recognised under state law, as are approvals from other states. Privately trained dogs can also get public access rights if they meet approval requirements.

University of Queensland law professor Paul Harpur, who uses a guide dog, said a national ID system like Queensland's could help, but warned any change shouldn't add barriers for people with disability. The WA Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety said concerns about a dog's behaviour should go to the local council, and handlers refused entry can use the complaint processes under the Disability Discrimination Act.

Photo: Calistemon via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Bunbury, seen from Marlston Hill.

Sources: ABC News.

Hero photo: John Robert McPherson via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). File photo of an assistance dog on a Queensland train.