More than 10,000 people in Europe use an assistance dog, whether that’s a guide dog, a hearing dog, a medical response dog or a psychiatric service dog.
While the law states that these dogs are allowed access to shops, hospitals, public transport, restaurants and other places, in reality many owners of assistance dogs report that they and their dogs are often refused entry. In the Netherlands, four out of five assistance dog users say they regularly experience problems, while according to Guide Dogs for the Blind in the UK, 75 per cent of assistance dog owners say they have been refused access.
Concerns about hygiene are often cited as the reason for barring entry, but a new pilot study by Utrecht University in the Netherlands has found that the paws of assistance dogs are cleaner than the soles of shoes.
For the study, the researchers recruited 25 assistance dogs and their users, and 25 pet dogs and their owners. The dogs included a wide variety of ages and…
