On Monday 24 May, SHC welcomed an assistance dog into our community. Assistance dogs are working dogs and when working in our community there are important points that we all need to be aware of. It is important that we abide by these points as their handlers and their rights are protected under the Disability Discrimination Act.

The following video outlines what we must do when an assistance dog is at work.

Please read below important information about assistance dogs and our responsibility around them.

When we have Assistance Dogs working in our community

Assistance Dogs provide support to many individuals throughout our communities.

They are amazing dogs that are able to guide and support many individuals in our local communities.

Assistant Dogs support many individuals for a wide range of reasons.

When Assistance dogs are working in our communities there are many important points that we all need to be aware of. It is important that we abide by these points as their handlers and their rights are protected under the Disability Discrimination Act.

What you need to know:

• Assistance Dogs come in many different shapes, sizes and kinds. It is really important that we treat them, like we do any other member of our community and do not stare or question their presence.

We must remember that they are there to do a job and are working.

• Assistant Dog Etiquette: The fundamentals you need to know.
  • Do not touch, distract or interact with the assistance dog in any way.
  • Do not feed the Assistance Dog
  • Do Not ask the handler questions about why they have the dog or what is “wrong” with them.
  • Do not take photographs of the handler or their Assistance Dog.
• Treat the Assistance Dog handler with the same respect of any other person in our community.
  • Greet and speak to the assistance dog handler like you would anybody else in our community.
  • Do not follow the assistance dog and their handler around. Do not approach them unnecessarily.
  • Offer the Assistance dog handler the same assistance as you would any other students, teachers or parents.
• Educate everyone in our community about Assistance Dogs and how they support people in our community.
• Accept everyone for who they are!!!

Remember the following points:

• When the Assistance Dog is wearing their jacket or collar they are in working mode.
• If they are laying down or resting with their jacket on, they are still in working mode.